The death toll in a landslip at Kadavoor in Ernakulam district rose to five today with the recovery of the body of a man, police said.
Heavy rains lashing parts of Central Kerala yesterday had claimed four lives in the region — three in a landslip and another who died of a heart attack after witnessing the incident.
Police, fire force and naval personnel were engaged in search operations since early this morning to recover the body of one more person.
Seven houses were damaged in the landslip with huge boulders and mud covering the dwellings. Police said the inmates of two houses were not at home when the landslip occurred.
Water Resources Minister P.J. Joseph, Revenue Minister Adoor Prakash, and Health Minister V.S. Sivakumar visited the area to get a first-hand knowledge of the devastation caused due to the landslide.
Sivakumar told reporters that the Government would give an emergency relief of Rs 10,000 to the dependents of the five persons killed.
On August 22, after a Cabinet meeting, the Government would announce a relief package based on a report of the Ernakulam District Collector, he said.
Medical camps have been started in the area.