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by Pankaj Yadav

NEW DELHI, Augbaccaratblack. 3 (Xinhua) -- Five days have passed since multiple landslides hit India's southern state of Kerala, with the death toll touching 400 as per local media reports.

Official data put the death toll at about 358.

The landslides hit several villages in Meppadi area in the state's Wayanad district in the wee hours of Tuesday, while the people were still asleep. A popular school in the area was reduced to rubble. Efforts were ongoing to rehabilitate the surviving students in some other school in a bid to save their academic year.

"The people of Kerala stand united in lifting Wayanad back on its feet," said state's Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan told media on Saturday.

He also said that several offers had come from the international community to provide resources for the reconstruction and rehabilitation work. Nearly 10,042 people were staying in as many as 93 relief camps set up by the state government, Vijayan said, and added that search operations continued in the disaster-hit areas along the Chaliyar River.

Drone-based radar would be deployed soon, he said.

The state chief minister said, "Rehabilitation must be carried out effectively, with the goal of building an entire township. The rehabilitation project will be completed swiftly."

"For the Vellarmala School, we will ensure that the children's education is not disrupted and will arrange alternative facilities."

The government of the neighbouring state of Karnataka announced to build 100 houses for those rendered homeless in the landslides.

"In light of the tragic landslide in Wayanad, Karnataka stands in solidarity with Kerala. I have assured CM @pinarayivijayan of our support and announced that Karnataka will construct 100 houses for the victims. Together, we will rebuild and restore hope," said Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramiah in a post on X, formerly Twitter.

Meanwhile, Kerala's Ministry of Finance appealed to the insurance companies to speedily disburse the insurance claims to the victims and their families. According to latest media reports, the insurance companies had initiated efforts in order to reach out to the insurance-policy holders.

State government sources said that the number of missing persons stood at 107. Among the 209 dead bodies pulled from under the debris, 67 were yet to be identified.

Media reports suggested that the total death toll was touching 400. If the official number of missing persons was added, the death toll would cross the 500-mark.

Considering the magnitude of the losses, monetary contributions have started pouring in. The lawmakers of Kerala's main ruling Communist Party of India (Marxist) have announced to donate 50,000 Indian Rupees (around 597 U.S. dollars) each out of their monthly salaries to the Chief Minister's Disaster Relief Fund.

In another related development after the landslides, India's federal government mulled declaring the mountain range "Western Ghats", which runs through the state of Kerala, as an ecologically-sensitive zone. The landslides-hit Wayanad district is located within the "Western Ghats" covered with dense forests.■