A terrible tragedy has occurred in Wayanad district of Kerala. Many houses in Meppadi, Mundakkal and Choorlamala areas of Wayanad were buried under debris in a landslide after heavy rains. The death toll has crossed 100 and is increasing with every passing hour. The situation is so difficult that army personnel have had to be deployed for rescue operations. The Kerala government has declared two days of mourning after this tragedy. Many people are still buried under the debris. The help of drones and search dog squads is also being taken to search for them.
Actually, Kerala’s Wayanad has hardly seen such devastation before. It is difficult to believe that where there was greenery till yesterday, there is only debris. Where there used to be settlements, there is now only a scene of devastation. There are debris of houses buried with the land sliding after the rain. All three armies of the country have landed in the battlefield of natural disaster in Wayanad for rescue operations. All three armies have started relief and rescue work. The Indian Air Force has deployed an MI-17 and ALH Dhruv helicopter for rescue and relief operations in Wayanad to help the state government and NDRF officials. Army and Navy divers are also involved in the rescue work.
The army is also visiting the affected areas by helicopter
According to the information, apart from the four contingents with a total strength of about 225 personnel already deployed for the relief rescue operation, two more contingents with a strength of about 140 personnel are on standby in Thiruvananthapuram, which will be sent immediately by air if needed. The Army is setting up a command-and-control center in Kozhikode to coordinate HADR efforts. The affected area is being examined by helicopter and the damage is being assessed to take the rescue operation in the right direction. Bridging resources are being included in the operation by the Army. They will be brought from Bangalore by road and from Delhi by air.
Apart from the army, NDRF and fire department etc. were also involved
Let us tell you that after the landslide in Wayanad, the situation was such that even the rivers changed their course. When the strong current of the rivers coming down from the mountain turned towards the settlements, it wreaked havoc in the residences. Local people say that this period of heavenly havoc came twice in Wayanad. Once at 2 o’clock in the night, a landslide occurred in the Choorlamala area, in which dozens of houses, vehicles, shops were all destroyed. About 250 personnel of Civil Defense, Police, Fire Department, SDRF, NDRF are engaged in rescue work.
The army has deployed a team of 43 personnel led by the second-in-command of the Territorial Army’s 122 Infantry Battalion Madras for relief and rescue. The team includes a medical officer, two junior commissioned officers and 40 soldiers, who are equipped with equipment to help in the affected area. At the same time, two rescue teams of the Indian Army numbering about 200 soldiers from the Defense Security Corps (DSC) Center in Kannur are deployed along with the medical team of the Kannur Military Hospital and Territorial Army troops from Kozhikode.
Rescue could start in Mundakai after 15 hours
In Wayanad’s Choorlamala area, rescue operations began early in the morning, but no one could reach Mundakai area early in the morning because all the road bridges leading there were destroyed. After about 15 hours, rescue operations could be started by building a temporary bridge here. About 150 people have been rescued from Mundakai village, they have been provided medical aid and they have been taken to safe places. Teams of sniffer dogs have been deployed to search for people buried under mud and debris.