A terrible tragedy has occurred in Wayanad district of Kerala. Many houses in Mepaddy, Mundakkal and Churalmala areas of Wayanad were buried under debris in the landslide that occurred after heavy rains. The death toll has crossed 100 and is continuously increasing with every passing hour. The situation is so difficult that army personnel have had to be deployed for relief and rescue. The Kerala government has announced two days of mourning after this tragedy. Many people are still buried under the debris. The help of drones and search dog squad is also being taken to search for them.
In fact, Wayanad in Kerala has rarely seen such devastation before. It is difficult to believe that where there was greenery till yesterday, only debris is visible there. Where there used to be settlements, there is now only a scene of devastation. There are debris of houses buried with the ground that slipped after the rains. All three armies of the country have entered the rescue operation in the battlefield of natural disaster in Wayanad. All three armies are engaged in relief and rescue work. The Indian Air Force has deployed one MI-17 and ALH Dhruv helicopter for rescue and relief operations in Wayanad to help the state government and NDRF officials. Divers from the Army and Navy are also involved in the rescue work.
Army is also visiting affected areas by helicopter
According to the information, in addition to the four contingents with a total strength of about 225 personnel already deployed for relief operations, two more contingents with a total strength of about 140 personnel are on standby in Thiruvananthapuram, which will be immediately airlifted 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 added to the operation by the Army. Will be brought from Bangalore by road and from Delhi by air.
Apart from the army, NDRF and fire department etc. also gathered.
Let us tell you that after the landslide in Wayanad, the situation became such that even the rivers changed their course. When the strong current of the rivers descending from the mountains turned towards the settlements, it started wreaking havoc in the settlements. 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 Churalmala area, in which dozens of houses, vehicles and shops were destroyed. About 250 personnel of Civil Defence, Police, Fire Department, SDRF, NDRF are engaged in rescue work.
The Army has deployed a team of 43 personnel under the leadership of the second-in-command of 122 Infantry Battalion Madras of the Territorial Army 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 contingents of the Indian Army numbering about 200 soldiers from the Defense Security Corps i.e. DSC center of Kannur are deployed along with the medical team of the Military Hospital of Kannur and Territorial Army contingents from Kozhikode.
Rescue could start in Mundakai after 15 hours
Relief rescue had started in the morning in Churalmala area of Wayanad, but no one could reach Mundakai area in the morning because all the road bridges on the way there were destroyed. After about 15 hours, relief work could be started by building a temporary bridge here. About 150 people have been rescued from Mundakai village, provided medical aid and shifted to safe places. Teams of sniffer dogs have been deployed to search for people buried in mud and debris.