The defence officials said that the Kerala State Administration has requisitioned rescue Columns of 122 Infantry Battalion (TA) MADRAS in response to the severe landslide in Chooralmala, Wayanad district…reports Asian Lite News
A total of 225 Army personnel have been deployed for rescue operations in Kerala’s Wayanad, officials said in a statement on Tuesday.
The statement said that the Army received a requisition for providing aid to civil authority on Tuesday morning. In response, the Army has mobilised four columns, including two columns ex 122 Infantry Battalion (Territorial Army) and two ex the DSC Centre, Kannur.
“Hundreds of people are suspected to have been trapped. The total strength of the Army deployed so far for the rescue operation is approximately 225 including medical personnel,” the statement read.
The defence officials said that the Kerala State Administration has requisitioned rescue Columns of 122 Infantry Battalion (TA) MADRAS in response to the severe landslide in Chooralmala, Wayanad district.
A team under the Second-in-Command along with a Medical Officer, two JCOs and 40 soldiers have mobilised to be deployed to aid in ongoing rescue efforts, they added.
In the wake of the situation in Wayanad, a special control room has been set up by the district administration at the police headquarters in Thiruvananthapuram.
The public can provide information to the 24-hour control room. The control room functions under the direct control of the state police chief. Phone numbers – 9497900402, 0471 2721566.
The state police chief has directed the ADGP (law and order) to coordinate the operations. Police personnel from four and five battalions of the Kerala Armed Police and Malabar Special Police are en route to Wayanad. The North Region IG and Kannur DIG have been directed to lead the relief operations.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced an ex-gratia of Rs 2 lakh for the next of kin of the deceased in the landslides. “The Prime Minister has announced an ex-gratia of Rs 2 lakh from Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund (PMNRF) for the next of kin of each deceased in the landslides in parts of Wayanad,” PM’s office said in a post on X.
Rescue operations are currently underway to assist all those affected, he added.
Congress MP Rahul Gandhi also expressed anguish over the situation and spoke to the Kerala Chief Minister and the Wayanad District Collector.
“I have requested them to ensure coordination with all agencies, set up a control room, and inform us of any assistance needed for the relief efforts. I will speak to Union Ministers and request them to provide all assistance possible to Wayanad,” Rahul Gandhi said in a post on X.
Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan gave directions to coordinate the rescue operations in Wayanad promptly following the devastating landslide. He announced that the entire government machinery is actively involved in the efforts, with Ministers overseeing and coordinating the operations.
As per the Kerala State Disaster Management Authority, landslides occurred in Meppadi panchayat, Vythiri taluk, at around 3.49 am on Tuesday.
250 members of the Fire and Rescue, Civil Defence, NDRF, and Local Emergency Response Teams are carrying out the rescue operation in Wayanad’s Chooralmala. An additional team of NDRF are en route, the KSDMA said.
The State Health Department has opened the district-level control room early in the morning. 8086010833 and 9656938689 can be contacted for emergency health services.
“All hospitals, including Vaithiri, Kalpatta, Meppadi, and Mananthavadi hospitals, are ready. In the night itself, all the health workers had arrived for service. More teams of health workers will be deployed in Wayanad,” the Health Minister said. (ANI)
Navy team from Ezhimala Base to assist in rescue op
An Indian Navy team from the Ezhimala Naval Base in Kannur is being sent to the district in Kerala to assist in the rescue operations at Chooralmala that was hit by landslides on Tuesday morning, following torrential rains.
The Navy team is being despatched, at the request of Chief Minister Pinrayi Vijayan who sought the help of the Navy’s River Crossing team, according to the Chief Minister’s Office. Army and Air Force have also been mobilised for the rescue operations in the area, which have been hampered as a main bridge has collapsed in the town of Chooralmala.
“The Malayangadu Bridge has been swept away by a landslide in the Vilaangadu Malayangad side. Four houses have been damaged, and 12 families are stranded with the bridge gone. One person is missing,” Congress MP from Vadakara, Shafi Parambil said.
The Kerala Chief Minister’s Office said that police drones and a dog squad will be deployed for search and rescue efforts as instructed by the Chief Minister.
District Collector DR Meghashree said that a platoon of the Army has reached Churamala for rescue operations.
An Army Engineering Group will be urgently deployed to Wayanad for rescue operations and related activities in the landslide-affected area. The Madras Engineering Group (MEG) from Bengaluru will arrive to implement alternative arrangements after the bridge collapse, the CMO stated.
Kerala Minister MB Rajesh said that an estimated 44 people had died in the landslides and the state government is coordinating with various agencies to carry out rescue efforts on a “war footing.”
“So far 44 people have died. We fear the gravity of this tragedy is much more. Rescue operations are being carried out by various agencies on a war footing. We have sought help from the Army which will reach the affected area soon”, minister Rajesh said.
“The chief minister is closely monitoring the operation. He has sent a team of ministers to Wayanad. An IAS officer will be camping in Wayand to coordinate the rescue ops. 250 people have been rescued and shifted to temporary shelter camps. We are airlifting stranded persons. All efforts are being taken by the government for rescue ops” the Kerala minister said.
Earlier, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan held discussions with top Kerala State Disaster Management Authority (KSDMA) officials on the situation in the landslide-affected Wayanad areas
“Evaluated the ongoing relief and rescue operations at Chooralmala, Wayanad, following the severe landslide, in a visit to the Kerala SDMA office,” Vijayan said.
A control room has been established to provide immediate relief and rescue assistance following the tragic landslide at Chooralmala, he said.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh spoke to the Army chief and asked him to mobilise forces for assistance and rescue in landslide-hit area and that army teams have reached the ground.
The chief minster’s office said that a delegation of five ministers are being sent to Wayanad to address the aftermath of the recent landslide and oversee ongoing relief efforts.
Kerala Forest Minister AK Saseendran has already reached the affected area to assess the damage and coordinate immediate response measures, Minister Ramachandran Kadannappalli is expected to arrive shortly to join the efforts on the ground.
In addition, the Ministers of Revenue, Public Works, and Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes Departments are travelling by air from Thiruvananthapuram and will be arriving soon, the chief minister said.
Union Minister of State George Kurian said officials of the Army, Air Force and Navy officials besides teams of the National Disaster Response Force are also reaching the affected site. (ANI)
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