70 Bodies Recovered, 1000 Rescued: IAF, Army, and NDRF Lead Wayanad's Heroic Rescue Effort

New Delhi: Military personnel have ramped up search and rescue efforts in the landslide-hit Wayanad, with the Army claiming the recovery of approximately 70 bodies and the rescue of nearly 1,000 individuals. A coordinated rescue operation involving multiple agencies, including the Army, Navy, and National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), is underway to locate and assist survivors in areas of Wayanad severely impacted by landslides. The Air Force has also joined the effort and working closely with other agencies to reach individuals stranded due to the loss of road connectivity in affected regions.  

Late on Monday night, three landslides occurred amid heavy rains, striking with such force that many people were caught off-guard while they were asleep. The aftermath revealed a tragic scene, with numerous bodies found on cots and buried under mud. The areas hardest hit by the landslides include Mundakkai, Chooralmala, Attamala, and Noolpuzha hamlets.

Massive Rescue Ops Underway

Indian Army columns, alongside the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), State rescue teams, Coast Guard, Indian Navy, and the Indian Air Force (IAF), have been tirelessly working to address the ongoing crisis in Wayanad. The multi-agency operation has seen the rescue of up to 1,000 individuals through the use of man-made bridges and human effort, while approximately 70 deceased bodies have been recovered by the Army.

Two additional Army columns were airlifted from Trivandrum by Indian Air Force aircraft AN-32 and C-130 and landed in Calicut at 10:30 PM last night. These columns commenced their onward journey to Wayanad at 6:45 AM today, with even an Army Officer on leave volunteering to join the mission.

170-foot bridge at Chooralmala

The Engineer Task Force from the Madras Engineer Group and Centre arrived on-site at 2:00 AM. Plans are underway to erect a Class 24, 170-foot bridge at Chooralmala. Reconnaissance of the Meppadi-Chooralmala Road is in progress, and essential bridging assets, including three sets of Bailey Bridges, JCBs, and TATRA trucks, are en route to Wayanad, expected to arrive by 2:00 PM.

Additionally, bridging assets from Delhi, along with three sniffer dogs, have been airlifted by the Indian Air Force's C-130 aircraft and are expected to reach Kannur shortly. Road movement to Wayanad is being coordinated with the civil administration.

An Army Control Centre has been established at Mepaddi, co-located with the State Administration Control Room, under the supervision of the Commandant of the PARA Regimental Centre. Aerial reconnaissance of the affected areas is being conducted this morning to assess the situation and guide further efforts.

Wayanad Landslide 

Meanwhile, heart-rending wails of grief and despair were heard as family members identified and performed the last rites of their loved ones who died in the massive landslides in this district, where over 132 people were killed and more than 200 were injured in the tragic incident. People of all ages were seen crying inconsolably as they identified the bodies of loved ones, lined one after another in coffin refrigerators at the Meppadi Family Health Centre and the Nilambur Government Hospital, or took one last fond look at them.

Similar scenes were also seen where remains were buried or cremated close to one another. The Wayanad district administration released images of several bodies being cremated side-by-side in wood- and gas-based cremation furnaces. At the Meppadi Juma Masjid, a member of the mosque committee said arrangements have been made to bury the bodies. "As and when the remains are identified and brought here, they will be buried. Arrangements for that have been made, Everyone is helping out," the committee member said.

Over 180 people are missing and more than 300 houses were completely destroyed in the landslides that hit the Mundakkai and Chooralmala areas of the district, according to the district administration. Of the dead, 75 have been identified and post-mortems of 123 have been completed.According to the district administration, the numbers of those who died are expected to increase even more and hundreds are feared to be buried under the debris.