A devastating event has unfolded in Kerala's Wayanad district. Following heavy rains, landslides in the Meppadi, Mundakkal, and Chooralmala areas have buried several homes under debris. The death toll has soared past 106 and continues to rise by the hour. Due to the severity of the situation, military personnel have been deployed for relief and rescue operations. The Kerala government has announced a two-day mourning period following this tragedy. Many people are still trapped under the debris, and drones along with dog squads are being used to search for them.
Wayanad has rarely seen such catastrophic events. It's hard to believe that the picturesque greenery has been replaced with landscapes littered with debris. Where homes once stood, there is now only devastation. Following the rains, landslides have buried houses under rubble. The three armed forces of the nation have taken on the rescue mission in the disaster-stricken battlefield of Wayanad. All three forces are dedicated to relief and rescue operations. The Indian Air Force has deployed an MI-17 and an ALH Dhruv helicopter to Wayanad for aid, supporting state officials and NDRF officers. Additionally, Army and Navy divers have joined the rescue tasks.
Source: aajtak
The Army is also surveying affected areas by helicopter
Information reveals that in addition to the four already deployed detachments, each with a strength of about 225 personnel, two more detachments with a capacity of about 140 personnel each are on standby in Thiruvananthapuram, ready to be airlifted if required. The Army is setting up a command-and-control center in Kozhikode to coordinate the HADR (Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief) efforts. Helicopter surveys of the affected area are being conducted to accurately guide the rescue mission. Bridging resources are being incorporated into the campaign, with materials being transported from Bangalore by road and Delhi by air.
Source: aajtak
Apart from the Army, NDRF and fire department are also engaged
In Wayanad, the situation became so dire that even the rivers had to change course after the landslides, inundating residential areas. Local residents recount facing the wrath of two landslides in rapid succession. The first occurred at 2 AM in the Chooralmala region, destroying dozens of homes, vehicles, and shops. The rescue operations have involved approximately 250 personnel from Civil Defense, Police, Fire Department, SDRF, and NDRF working tirelessly to save lives.
Source: aajtak
An Army team led by the second-in-command of the 122 Infantry Battalion of the Territorial Army (Madras) comprising 43 personnel is tirelessly working in the rescue and relief efforts. The team includes a medical officer, two junior commissioned officers, and 40 soldiers, all equipped to assist the affected areas. In Kannur, two more rescue detachments from the Defense Security Corps (DSC) Centre, made up of around 200 soldiers, along with medical teams from the military hospital, and units from the Territorial Army in Kozhikode, are deployed as well.
Source: aajtak
Mundakayi rescue started 15 hours later
Early morning rescue operations kicked off in the Chooralmala region, but the Mundakayi area saw delayed efforts because road bridges were destroyed, blocking access. It took approximately 15 hours and the construction of a temporary bridge to begin the rescue mission there. About 150 people were rescued from Mundakayi village, given medical aid, and transported to safer locations. Search teams with tracking dogs were employed to locate those trapped under the mud and debris.
