• Wayanad landslide toll nears 300; Army builds Bailey bridge for rescue, to use drones to find survivors

    National
    Wayanad landslide toll nears 300; Army builds Bailey bridge for rescue, to use drones to find survivors
    A shortage of heavy machinery has further compounded challenges, delaying efforts to clear mud and debris...

    Digital Desk: Rescue teams, comprising the Indian Army, NDRF, and local emergency response units, are engaged in a desperate race against time amidst challenging conditions in Kerala’s Wayanad district. The efforts are focused on locating survivors trapped under collapsed buildings following massive landslides that struck the region three days ago.

    According to Kerala Health Minister Veena George, the landslides have claimed the lives of at least 308 people, while approximately 300 others remain unaccounted for, as reported by Kerala ADGP M R Ajith Kumar.

    As rescue operations entered the fourth day on Friday, efforts have expanded significantly, incorporating advanced technologies such as drone-based radar systems to detect signs of life beneath the debris.

    The teams have faced numerous obstacles, including the rugged terrain rendered impassable by destroyed infrastructure like roads and bridges. A shortage of heavy machinery has further compounded challenges, delaying efforts to clear mud and debris obstructing access to affected areas.

    In a remarkable feat of engineering, the Indian Army swiftly constructed a 190-ft-long Bailey Bridge to reconnect the severed link between Mundakkai and Chooralmala over the Iruvanjippuzha River. The original bridge was washed away in the catastrophic landslides, severely hampering rescue and relief operations.

    As the rescue teams persevere under daunting circumstances, the focus remains on locating survivors and providing urgent assistance to those affected by this tragic natural disaster in Wayanad.