Wayanad: The death toll in the massive landslides in Wayanad jumped to 298 as the DNA test results confirmed the death of four more people. DNA results of three unidentified bodies and a body part came out on Tuesday. The deceased in the new list are Andrea, Rangaswamy, Naja Fathima and Subair. With this, the number of identified people climbed to 254.

Wayanad district collector has issued an order to release the bodies to the relatives soon. As per the order, the names of the people would be changed on the burial ground at Puthumala accordingly.

The government has released a new list of the deceased after DNA results confirmed the identity of more people. A total of 44 people went missing in the landslides that hit Mundakkai and Chooralmala in the hill district on July 30. Among the missing 128 people, 84 were identified through DNA tests.

Till date, 170 bodies have been handed over to the relatives. A total of 151 bodies and 45 body parts were recovered from the landslide-hit Mundakkao and Chooralmala regions. The search personnel also recovered 80 bodies and 178 body parts from Nilambur area.

The DNA test results are delayed as the government initiated a lengthy and complex process of DNA profiling of samples collected from the mortal remains. DNA profiling was done using Short Tandem Repeat (STR) analysis, which establishes the identity of missing persons and confirms familial relations.