Wayanad landslides: Army, SOG, forest officials conduct search operation at Sunrise Valley in Soojippara

Wayanad (Kerala) [India], August 8 (ANI): A special team consisting of army personnel, SOG officials and forest officials have been conducting a search operation at Sunrise Valley in Soojippara, inside the forest on Thursday.

Meanwhile, the Wayanad district administration organised a farewell for the Indian Army personnel who were a part of the rescue and search operation in landslide-hit areas of Kerala’s Wayanad.

As the Indian Army after completing a ten-day-long rescue operation is set to leave, the rescue operation will be handed over to the forces of NDRF, SDRF, Fire Force and Kerala police.

Indian Army battalion comprising around 500 members from Thiruvananthapuram, Kozhikode, Kannur and Bengaluru are set to return. The maintenance team of Bailey Bridge temporarily constructed by the Indian Army will remain in the area.

In Charge Of the Army’s Wayanad Mission, Col Paramvir Singh Nagra stated that the local people and administration provided immense support in the rescue and search operation.

“It was a joint operation done under the leadership of Major General Mathew along with the support of local people and administration. There was no dearth of volunteers.

People not just from Wayanad but from all the districts of Kerala, Tamil Nadu came and assisted us,” said Col Paramvir Singh Nagra.

“The most important thing was to establish a bridge as many people had to be rescued from the other side of the river. A temporary bridge was constructed and we could evacuate over 1000 on the first day of the rescue operation. The state government provided us with needed assistance as we required manual labour and JCBs to search the demolished houses. However, we are leaving but we have left a party to carry forward the operation,” he added.

Meanwhile, IAF helicopters are now aiding the search operations today. Till now, more than 700 kg of relief material, 8 civilians, and teams of Special Operations Group have been airlifted by helicopters since Wayanad was hit by disaster on 30 July 24.

Notably, the Chooralmala and Mundakkai in Kerala’s Wayanad were hit by massive landslides on July 30 claiming over 300 lives and creating widespread property damage.