The CM is overseeing rescue efforts and a few ministers are currently headed to Wayanad to oversee the rescue operations.
Published Jul 30, 2024 | 10:18 PM ⚊ Updated Jul 31, 2024 | 2:49 PM
Rescue efforts at Wayanad after landslides
Kerala Minister for Local Self Government MB Rajesh said on Tuesday, 30 July that the death toll in the landslides in Wayanad district has crossed 108 as of 7 pm; given the number of people missing, the toll is likely to rise.
An Indian Navy team from the Ezhimala Naval Base in Kannur has been deployed in Chooralmala town, where shops, homes and vehicles were washed away in the landslide. The Indian Navy deployment came in response to a request from Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, who sought the aid of the Navy’s River Crossing team.
The chief minister is overseeing rescue efforts and a team of ministers is currently headed to Wayanad while an IAS officer will remain there to facilitate the coordination of rescue operations. A control room has been set up to manage immediate relief and response efforts.
Besides the Kerala Fire and Rescue Services, the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), police and military units are engaged in the rescue operations. Over 300 personnel of the fire and rescue services drawn from different districts of the state have been deployed in Wayanad, including 35 trained members from the Water Rescue Academy. There are 86 civil defence members and AapdaMitra volunteers at the scene.
Aapda Mitra volunteers are the first responders in case of any disaster. To train and raise community volunteers in response to the disaster, NDMA launched a country-wide project titled ‘Aapda Mitra’, meaning ‘friends during disasters’.
Besides the 60-member NDRF team that is in Wayanad, a 30-member NDRF team has been spread across the districts of Idukki, Pathanamthitta, Alappuzha, Ernakulam, Kozhikode, and Malappuram. Teams from Bangalore and Arakkonam are also en route to Wayanad and Palakkad, respectively.
A 64-member team from the Defence Security Corps (DSC), which provides security cover to defence installations, has arrived in Wayanad, and another team of 89 members is en route. A DSC team is stationed in Kannur.
Besides the Navy’s River Crossing team, request for support has also been made to the Engineer Task Force and Indian Coast Guard.
Specialist support needed includes drone teams from various districts and two specially trained police dogs for body detection. Two Air Force choppers en route from Sulur near Coimbatore to Wayanad are currently grounded in Kozhikode due to adverse weather.
Arrangements are being made to deploy Army-trained dogs for body detection, and traffic management has been organised to ensure that Army units arriving from Bangalore with equipment for debris clearing can reach their destinations without delay.
Two additional relief columns, including medical teams from Thiruvananthapuram, are being airlifted to Calicut by Indian Air Force aircraft AN-32 and C-130. An AN-32 aircraft with one column on board has reached Calicut at 5 pm, and further movement from Calicut to the affected sites is being coordinated with the state government.
Command and coordination at the disaster site are being managed by senior officials. The IG and DIG of the Northern Range are on the ground in Wayanad overseeing the rescue efforts. The Additional Director General of Police (ADGP), responsible for coordinating the operations, is also working from Wayanad. A control room has been set up at the Police Headquarters in Thiruvananthapuram, under the supervision of the State Police Chief.
In addition to local police, personnel from Kerala Armed Police battalions, the Rapid Response and Rescue Force, and the Special Operations Group are participating in the rescue mission. Trained police officers from the High Altitude Training Center of the 5th Battalion of the Kerala Armed Police are also involved.
Indian Army Engineering Group is managing the aftermath of the bridge collapse; the main bridge connecting the affected area, mostly tea and cardamom estates to the town of Chooralmala, collapsed on Tuesday. Madras Engineering Group (MEG) from Bengaluru is also assisting the Ezhimala Navy team in setting up the temporary Bailey bridge.
The 110-feet bridging equipment is being flown from Delhi in a C-17 aircraft carrier. Bailey bridges are versatile, temporary structures that can be quickly assembled from pre-fabricated components. Designed primarily for light vehicles, these bridges consist of beams and trusses, making them ideal for rapid deployment in emergencies.
They come in various weight capacities, typically categorised into Class 40 tons and Class 70 tons, accommodating different needs. Bailey bridges are a crucial solution for restoring vital infrastructure swiftly when traditional bridges are unavailable.
Public Works Department Minister Muhammed Riyas announced that instructions have been issued to prohibit activities that could interfere with rescue efforts. Nighttime work will continue, with necessary lighting arrangements. Heavy rain is forecast for Tuesday night too, so all individuals except rescue personnel are required to relocate to safer areas. Airlifting operations have been suspended due to the severe weather conditions.
Kerala Minister MB Rajesh said 250 stranded people have been rescued so far, and moved to temporary shelters. Kerala Forest Minister AK Saseendran is at the site, assessing the damage. Other ministers heading the departments of Revenue, Public Works, and Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes, are on their way from Thiruvananthapuram. Union Minister of State George Kurian has confirmed that more officials from the Army, Air Force, Navy, and National Disaster Response Force are also heading to the affected area.
(Edited by Rosamma Thomas)
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