Thiruvananthapuram: A major search and rescue operation is still underway with hundreds missing and the death toll crossing 200 figure after multiple devastating landslides struck the Chooralmala and Mundakkai areas of Wayanad district in Kerala on July 30, 2024.
The Kerala government said an intelligent buried object detection system will be deployed to identify human presence underground, with support from the team led by retired Major General Indrapalan.
Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan told media persons today that so far 1,592 people had been rescued in a two-day operation. The state government said currently, 8,017 people were sheltered in 82 relief camps across the district. In Meppadi alone, 8 camps were housing a total of 1,486 people from 421 families.
A temporary hospital has been established at Meppadi Polytechnic, while a temporary clinic has been set up in the madrasa and Churalmala church. Additional forensic teams have been deputed, and the number of post-mortem tables increased.
A team of 1,167 people, including 645 firefighters, 94 National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) members, 167 Decision Support Centre (DSC) members, 153 Army personnel from the Madras Engineering Group (MEG), Bengaluru, and Coast Guard members, were y assigned to rescue operations under the command of 10 station officers.
The NDRF has 3 teams involved in the rescue, alongside Madras Regiment and Defense Service Cops using dinghy boats and ropes. 350 local police and police with cadaver dogs, a high altitude team and a special operations group, are also participating in the search and rescue operations.
The district administration said 96 bodies were identified and post-mortems of 166 were completed. As many as 1,167 rescue workers were involved in the search operations. As many as 99 people are in treatment and others were sent to various relief camps.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced an ex gratia payment of Rs. 2 lakh for the next of kin of the deceased and Rs. 50,000 as compensation for the injured. Union Minister Nityanand Rai told Rajya Sabha that Rs. 145 crore was disbursed for Kerala from the State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF). The Tamil Nadu government today donated Rs. 5 crore to support Wayanad‘s relief efforts.
Based on the request from the Kerala State Disaster Management Authority (KSDMA), the Southern Naval Command dispatched a disaster relief team of 68 personnel from INS Zamorin at Ezhimala to the landslide-affected site and the rescue team comprising skilled personnel along with a medical team and necessary equipment reached the site at 2200 hours on July 30, 2024. Additional teams have been kept on standby for deployment at short notice and will be mobilised as required.
An Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH) detachment in Search and Rescue (SAR) configuration was deployed from Kochi to Calicut at 0730 hours today to augment the rescue efforts. The adverse weather conditions due to incessant rains pose challenges in the area. All-out efforts were underway to provide immediate relief and support to the local populace impacted by the disaster, the Ministry of Defence stated today.
On the second day of the ‘Humanitarian Aid and Disaster Relief ‘operation, the Indian Army intensified its efforts to rescue stranded people.
Since the initial requisition received from the civil administration in the early hours of July 30, the army has deployed six Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) columns comprising a strength of around 500 personnel including medical staff along with bridging equipment and rescue dogs. The army said it had rescued around 1000 people, provided medical aid to them, and evacuated them to safer places. The army also recovered the bodies of around 86 deceased personnel.
The Army has set up a “Command and Control Centre” headed by Major General VT Mathew, General Officer Commanding, Karnataka and Kerala Sub Area along with Brigadier Arjun Segan at Kozhikode for coordinating HADR efforts. Brigadier Segan carried out a reconnaissance of the affected areas in the early hours of today and guided the Army columns for further conduct of the rescue operation. The troops are conducting rescue operations along a six-kilometre stretch of landslide-affected areas.
The troops forming part of the HADR columns were mobilised from Kannur, Kozhikode, and Thiruvananthapuram. Two columns each belonging to DSC Centre, Kannur and 122 Infantry Battalion (Territorial Army) MADRAS, Kozhikode having a total strength of 225 personnel were the first responders and reached the location to commence rescue operations in conjunction with NDRF and other agencies. Two additional HADR columns including two medical teams having a strength of 135 personnel were airlifted from Trivandrum to Kozhikode by AN-32 and C-130 aircraft; to further augment the rescue and relief operations.
The State Government had requested the Army to provide a bridging effort. In response, the Army’s Engineer Task Force from Madras Engineer Group and Centre (MEG & Centre) with a strength of 123 personnel along with a set of 150-foot Bailey Bridge, three JCBs and other support equipment has been inducted into the affected area. Construction of a bridge on the Meepadi – Choormala Road is under progress including induction of certain earth-moving equipment to the other side of the stream utilising air effort. Construction of a footbridge was completed overnight on 30-31 July.
A C-17 aircraft carrying another set of 110 feet Bailey Bridge from Engineers Stores Depot, Delhi Cantonment and three Search and Rescue Dog Teams also landed at Kannur for further employment today. Additional resource requirements are being assessed based on the aerial and ground reconnaissance and needs of the civil administration.
During the day Indian Air Force helicopters undertook multiple sorties dropping food items and other relief materials. Evacuation of civilian causalities was also executed from cut-off areas. Naval aviation assets provided due support in the transportation of the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) and state administration officials. Multiple aircraft are on standby at Thiruvananthapuram, Sulur and Thanjavur to provide air rescue at short notice.
Besides the aid in terms of medicine and first aid, ECHS Polyclinic, Kalpetta is providing services of doctors, nursing assistants and ambulances to the flood operations columns.
“The Indian Army remains steadfast in assisting the stranded citizens and is working relentlessly to ensure the safety of one and all. The Army is committed to supporting the state of Kerala during this challenging time. The rescue teams are working tirelessly to provide relief and rescue operations in the affected areas,” the Ministry of Defence stated.
Earlier, the state government declared a two-day mourning period on July 30-31, 2024, and all public functions and celebrations had been postponed. Chief Minister Vijayan, who held a high-level meeting to coordinate the rescue operations soon after the disaster struck Wayanad, assigned a delegation of five ministers in Wayanad to address the aftermath of the recent landslide and oversee ongoing relief efforts.
– global bihari bureau
