Zee Media Bureau
Pune: A week has passed since the terrible landslide that swallowed Pune`s Malin village. 22 more bodies were recovered from in the last 24 hours from under the debris, taking the death toll in the 30 July disaster to 152.
The massive rescue effort by National Disaster Response Force personnel, who worked ceaselessly braving heavy rains, is come to a end as only 15-20 more bodies are expected to be still under the mound.
The estimate of casualties has been calculated on the basis of headcount of families living in about 45 houses flattened by the mudslide.
Carcasses of 50 animals too have been extricated in almost round-the-clock rescue operation.
District health authorities have taken preventive measures to sanitise the area with continuous spraying of disinfectants.
NDRF jawans persevered with their work wearing face masks to keep out the oppressive stench as they dug out decomposed bodies of humans and animals.
"We have taken all precautions to deal with possible health hazards," he said, adding that water samples in the area too are being tested for possible contamination.
The district administration has also asked remaining inhabitants of the village to leave their houses following an advisory by Geological Survey of India warning of more landslides if rainfall continues.
Meanwhile, mass cremation of the dead continued with huge quantities of firewood procured by district officials from the forest department, while relatives struggled to come to terms with the horrific tragedy that virtually wiped the village off the map.
With PTI inputs
