Rescue operations concluded on Tuesday with the recovery of two more bodies from the landslide that struck VOC Nagar in Tiruvannamalai district, bringing the total death toll to seven. The tragic incident, which buried two houses under debris, claimed the lives of two adults and five children from two neighboring families.Victims Identified
The deceased were identified as N. Rajkumar (28), R. Meena (27), their children R. Gowtham (9) and R. Iniya (5), along with three children from a neighboring familyâS. Ramya (7), M. Vinothini (14), and M. Maha (7).
Rajkumarâs body was recovered on Tuesday morning, while Ramyaâs body was retrieved in the afternoon. Earlier on Monday, the rescue team had unearthed the other five bodies.
A rescue team official noted the challenges in the operation:
“The retrieval of Rajkumar and Ramyaâs bodies was particularly difficult as they were trapped under heavy rocks.”
All seven bodies were sent to the Tiruvannamalai Government Hospital for postmortem, and the families of the victims have confirmed their identities.
A team of retired professors from IIT MadrasâNarasimma Rao, Boominathan, and Mohanâvisited the site on Tuesday to collect sand samples and analyze the stability of the Annamalaiyar Hills. “We are assessing the risk of further landslides in the area,â said one of the experts.
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin expressed his condolences to the bereaved families, stating:
“I extend my deepest sympathies to the families affected by this tragic incident.”
The Chief Minister also announced a âč5 lakh ex-gratia payment for each family of the deceased, to be disbursed from the Chief Ministerâs General Relief Fund.
The government has assured further investigation into the causes of the landslide and is taking measures to prevent similar disasters in the future.