Force' of forces rescued 4,450 in Kodagu
3,188 still lodged in 37 relief camps in rain and landslide-hit district, CRPF to assist in search operations.
Mysuru: With the situation considerably improving in Kodagu which recorded moderate rainfall on Monday, armed forces personnel who played a pivotal role in rescue and relief operations in the past one week rescuing 4450 people, may soon return to their base. Meanwhile, 39 more people returned home from the relief camps with five more camps closed on Monday.
Presently there are 3,188 people lodged in 27 relief camps. A total of 7,594 victims were earlier housed in 51 relief centres. Currently, in Kodagu, there are only one team of the NDRF with 30 personnel, 300 personnel of the fire and emergency services, SDRF, home guards and civil defence.
A team of 30 members from the CRPF will be dispatched to the district to assist the district administration in search operations, according to Gangaram Baderia, Principal Secretary and Relief Commissioner, Revenue department (disaster management). Three engineers from the Border Road Organisation including Lt Col Manish Kumar will be arriving on Tuesday to guide engineers on restoration of damaged roads, he said.
Personnel from the forces who undertook rescue operations, trekking several kilometres amidst heavy rains, risking their own lives, have expressed their gratitude to Mr Baderia who led them all as Relief Commissioner. Major Sudarshan Gaikwad and team from Madras Engineer Group and Centre, in their message
said, “I would like to thank you for all the support given by you all in making our operations successful.... I hope Kodagu returns to its scenic supreme beauty at the earliest.”
One column of the Indian Army with 50 members from the Dogra Regiment, one column of the Army Engineering task force with 75 members, 12 surface rescuers with rafts from Indian Navy, two teams of NDRF with 62 members, 750 personnel with boats and rescue equipment from the fire and emergency services, home guards, 45 personnel with boats and rescue equipments from the civil defence quick response team, 200 NCC cadets, one M 17 chopper and two AN 32 aircraft from the Air force were deployed for rescue and relief operations.