Wayanad landslide: Army deploys six rescue columns, medical aid posts, portable bridges and sniffer dogs for rescue ops

“In all, four columns with medical aid posts have reached the site. More than 150 persons have been evacuated to safety. Rescue efforts in other locations are underway. Two additional relief columns, including medical teams from Trivandrum, are being airlifted to Calicut by Indian Air Force aircraft AN-32 and C-130 aircraft. An AN-32 aircraft with one column on board reached Calicut at 5 pm on Tuesday, and coordination for further movement from Calicut to the affected sites is being done with the Kerala State Government’s assistance.” a post X by Southern Command on Tuesday evening read.

The post further said, “Engineer Task Force (ETF) from Madras Engineers Group including earthmover and transport assets and one set of 110 feet Bailey Bridge and flood relief store are underway from Bangalore to the mishap site. Movement of another 110 feet bridging equipment from Delhi with the help of C-17 aircraft is underway. Three sniffer dogs have been mobilised to the site.”

A Control Centre is also being established in Kozhikode under commandant Para Regimental Centre for monitoring of all relief operations. Relief operations in Maharashtra’s Sangli in progress.

Meanwhile, in Sangli District of Maharashtra, relief operations are currently in progress by an Army column with damage assessment having been conducted along a 20-kilometre stretch of the Krishna river, involving local Disaster Management Authority (DMA), Superintendent of Police and the Municipal Commissioner. The Army has also set up a medical camp to assist people evacuated by the district administration.

During the 2018 flood that had wreaked major havoc in the state, the troops from Southern Command had undertaken extensive disaster relief efforts across all affected districts in coordination with local administrations and state government.