Wayanad, August 3
As many as 78 naval personnel have been deployed to carry out rescue and relief operations at multiple locations in Chooralmala and Mundakkai areas of Kerala's Wayanad following landslides, officials said on Saturday.
According to officials, one of the teams was deployed at the river base to maintain a continuous supply of material, food and provisions to the affected people while the other teams were deployed to search for survivors, clear debris and recover bodies.
A medical post has been set up at Chooralmala to provide medical assistance to the injured.
A team of three officers and 30 sailors augmented the efforts of the Indian Army in assembling and constructing the crucial Bailey Bridge over the river connecting the regions of Chooralmala and Mundakkai which were isolated by the landslides. The bridge serves as the backbone of logistics support enabling the movement of heavy machinery and ambulances.
On Friday, August 2, the Indian Navy's Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH) of INS Garuda operating from Calicut undertook aerial recce of the affected areas for survivors and locating bodies. The helicopter airlifted 12 state police personnel along with rescue equipment to the disaster area, which was inaccessible by road. The sortie was conducted over the hilly terrain in low visibility and challenging weather conditions.
Indian Navy is working closely in coordination with the district administration and the disaster relief agencies to ensure quick evacuation of stranded people and provision of basic amenities and medical aid.
The relief teams began the search operations along with the dog squad at 7 am on Saturday. The relief columns of the Indian Army are also present at the spot and all activities are coordinated by North Kerala IGP.
The death toll in the massive landslides that occurred on July 30 in Chooralmala and Mundakkai of Wayanad stands at 308 as of Friday, Kerala Health Minister Veena George said.
Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said on Saturday that 215 bodies were recovered so far as rescue operations are in the final phase in landslides-hit Wayanad. "206 people are still missing and 83 are undergoing treatment at various hospitals in Wayanad, Kozhikode and Malappuram districts," the CM said.