Wayanad: A day after the massive landslides struck Kerala’s Wayanad, desperate scenes were witnessed with the rescue teams reaching the destroyed houses and frantically searching for missing people, even as the death toll on Wednesday reached 176, with 98 still missing.
The worst affected areas include Churalpara, Velarimala, Mundakayil and Pothukalu. The locals from these areas, who managed to escape, are deeply shattered by the extent of the devastation.
Fresh army forces arrive for rescue ops in Wayanad
On Wednesday fresh forces arrived, including Brigadier Arjun Seagan, Commandant of the PARA Regiment Training Centre, and his team. The team reached the affected site and took charge of the Control Centre at Mepaddi which is about 12 km from Churalmala, one of the worst affected sites.
Four Relief Columns of the Defence Security Corps (DSC) Centre & 122 TA Battalion (MADRAS) began their operations at 6 a.m. They were divided into two composite teams for joint rescue and extrication of dead bodies and for assistance in setting up the Bailey Bridge at Churalmala.
Another two Columns, including a medical team of the 91 Infantry Battalion landed at Kozhikode late Tuesday night and reached the affected areas. The team is led by CO 23 Maratha Light Infantry.
The Engineering Task Force of Madras Engineer Group, Bangalore & C (01 Officer, 02 JCOs & 120 Soldiers) have already reached Churalmala. Equipment to set up a 170-foot bridge is being planned at Churalmala, while a second set of bridge equipment columns along with bailey pier parts is likely to reach by afternoon.
The Commandant, MEG Centre will be overseeing the critical bridge activity and will arrive later in the day.
Another set of Bailey Bridge from ESD Delhi Cantonment is being airlifted for Kannur by the C-17 Globemaster. The operation will be coordinated by Captain Puran Singh of the Kannur Defence Security Corps (DSC).
Bridge construction materials will be brought to Wayanad in 17 trucks.
Bridge equipment along with three sniffer dogs and handlers from Delhi has landed in Kannur and is on its way to the affected areas.
The combined defence forces team on Tuesday rescued over 1,000 people and 70 dead bodies recovered by the armed forces last night.
As rescue operators recover body parts from the rivers and mud, it is difficult to ascertain the exact number of people killed in the tragedy, the source said. There are several women and children among the dead. Additionally, hundreds are feared to be trapped, but the authorities have not confirmed the same.
Union Minister of State George Kurian is heading to Wayanad to lead relief and rescue operations. On the directions of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the minister will coordinate with National Disaster Relief Force personnel, paramilitary forces, Kerala Government officials and other agencies in the operation.
A team of 30 specialist swimmers from the Indian Navy has been deployed. Two helicopters from Air Force station Sulur have also been despatched, as per the Defence officials.
The landslides triggered by heavy rainfall, which occurred early on Tuesday, have left a trail of destruction in its wake, with several houses destroyed, water bodies swollen and trees uprooted.
Mundakkai, Chooralmala, Attamala, and Noolpuzha villages were among the areas affected and cut off by the landslides, authorities said.
The rescue teams from the Army, Air Force, Navy, NDRF, police, Fire Force and locals were engaged in the operations till late into Tuesday night and were back early on Wednesday.
The rescue teams are now trying to search the destroyed homes to look for survivors.
Anxious relatives are waiting in Mundakayil in front of some destroyed homes hoping that the rescue team will find some alive.
Rain continues to play spoilsport at the affected spots as the whole area is filled with a slurry, big and small boulders.
Meanwhile, the police have stopped people from travelling to Wayanad without a reason as most of the roads to the affected places are getting crowded hampering the movement of the rescue vehicles.
On Wednesday, the rescue teams are being reinforced with more trained people joining to speed up the rescue operations.
Yechury expresses grief
CPI(M) general secretary Sitaram Yechury on Tuesday expressed grief over the loss of lives in landslides in Kerala’s Wayanad district and urged the Centre to provide all assistance to the state.
“Deeply grieved and agonised at the death of (a) large number of people… in the unprecedented monstrous landslides in Wayanadu, Kerala,” Yechury said in a post on X.
Shah speak to Kerala CM
Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Tuesday spoke to Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and took stock of the situation in Wayanad which has been hit by a series of landslides.
Shah also assured Vijayan of all possible help from the central government to deal with the situation.
“The home minister spoke to Kerala chief minister and took stock of the situation in Wayanad. The home minister also assured the chief minister of all possible help from the central government,” an official said.
TN to send rescue team
Tamil Nadu chief minister M K Stalin on Tuesday spoke to Vijayan on the landslides caused by heavy rainfall, assured him of the state’s full support in rescue and relief efforts and announced the immediate dispatch of a team to assist the neighbour.
The Chief Minister directed Tamil Nadu authorities to release Rs 5 crore to the neighbouring state towards relief activities and tasked officials to send a rescue team to Kerala to assist it in its rescue and relief work
The Tamil Nadu team would comprise 20 personnel from the state Fire and Rescue Services, 20 from the state disaster response force and 10 doctors and nurses.
Fully committed towards Kerala: Siddaramaiah
Expressing grief over the loss of lives in landslides, Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah said Karnataka is committed to providing all possible help to the neighbouring state.
“Deeply saddened by the catastrophic floods in Wayanad. My heart goes out to the affected families. Karnataka is committed to providing all possible help to Kerala in this challenging time. Let’s stand united and strong,” Siddaramaiah said in a post on ‘X’.
The landslides in the hilly district, triggered by heavy rains, claimed at least 57 lives on Tuesday.
Landslide in Kozhikode
A man went missing, several houses were damaged and bridge and roads washed away following a landslide reported in Vilangadu and Malayangadu areas in the high ranges of northern Kozhikode district on Tuesday.
NDRF personnel launched a mission to search for the missing man, Kozhikode district authorities said.
The Malayangadu bridge was washed away, resulting in as many as 15 families being cut off from the main area, they said.
Army dogs put into action
Expertly-trained dogs from the Army’s elite canine unit of breeds such as Belgian Malinois, Labradors, and German Shepherds, which can smell human remains and even the faintest of breath buried deep under mud, are on their way to the landslide-ravaged Meppadi in Wayanad.
These dogs have been trained for several years at the prestigious Remount Veterinary Corps Centre (RVC) in Meerut, Uttar Pradesh.
Based on a special request from the government, the Canine Squad of the Army, specially trained for operations in disaster areas, will be flown to Wayanad to sniff out signs of life so that people trapped deep under the mud at the landslide site can be rescued, and also to recover the human remains of those who were not fortunate enough to survive nature’s onslaught.
IMD declares red alert
The India Meteorological Department has issued a red alert for eight districts in the state for heavy rainfall. A red alert has been issued for the Idukki, Thrissur, Palakkad, Malappuram, Kozhikode, Wayanad, Kannur and Kasargod districts. An orange alert has been issued for Pathanamthitta, Alappuzha, Kottayam and Ernakulam districts.
(With inputs from agencies)
