After nature’s havoc in Kerala’s Wayanad, Piyush Anand, Director General of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), stated on Thursday that four teams are currently on the ground, striving to save as many people as possible.
Anand told ANI, “We responded immediately. The situation is still unfolding. It’s a very bad disaster that has happened. Specifically, how many casualties, it’s not possible to give the number as of now. The main challenge that we faced was that the main bridge washed away. Our team had to cross the bridge, which was flowing at a high current, and then they had to set up a rescue center there. There was a lot of mud and slush; our men had to carry their equipment on their backs, which was very heavy.”
He further mentioned that there are currently 12 teams in Kerala, with four of them in Wayanad.
“NDRF teams are engaged in rescue work. Our four teams are present there. We rescued people using the rope rescue technique. The Indian Army and Air Force are also present; the Indian Army is trying to build a Bailey bridge. The Air Force has rescued many people and has also delivered food items to the trapped people. We are trying our best to save as many people as possible. It has been a great cooperative effort as many agencies are involved in this,” the NDRF DG said.
Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan emphasized on Thursday that the main priority now is the rescue of missing persons, with rehabilitation to be initiated at the earliest.
The Chief Minister chaired a high-level meeting today that was attended by leaders of all political parties, state ministers, and other officials.
Two massive landslides struck Mundakkai and Churalmala in Wayanad in the early hours of July 30, causing extensive destruction, loss of lives, and injury to hundreds, as per the Kerala Revenue Department.
NDRF DIG Mohsen Shahidi reported that over 200 deaths have been declared, and bodies were being recovered on Thursday following the landslides in Kerala’s Wayanad.