Wayanad Landslide: Search operations scaled up; Army opens Bailey Bridge

Over 1500 individuals have been rescued from areas affected by landslides. As the search for more than 240 missing persons including 25 children, carries on, the injured receive treatment in various hospitals and medical centres. The search efforts, halted on Wednesday night due to relentless rains, resumed on Thursday morning.

Army personnel completed the construction of a Bailey Bridge connecting Mundakkai and Chooralmala, areas affected by the devastating landslides on July 30. The bridge was opened to the public in the evening, allowing army trucks and other vehicles to pass through. The Bailey bridge, with a capacity of 24 tonnes, will be fully operational from Friday.

The construction of the bridge will enable the army and other rescue teams to transport heavy vehicles and earthmovers, thereby intensifying the rescue operations in Chooralmala and Mundakkai.

The bridge was completed after a massive effort by the Army and Air Force. The materials for the bridge were airlifted from Delhi to Kannur airport and were subsequently transported to Wayanad in heavy-duty trucks.

The construction of the Bailey Bridge is critical for expanding rescue operations in the Mundakkai area. The landslide destroyed the bridge that connected Mundakkai and Chooralmala.

Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan gave details of the government's strategy for rescue, relief operations, and rehabilitation in the areas impacted by the catastrophic landslides. Addressing the media after an all-party meeting at the district collectorate on Thursday, the Chief Minister stated that the current priority is to conduct effective rescue operations in areas affected by landslides.

He assured that rehabilitation efforts would be carried out efficiently. As an interim measure, individuals will be housed in relief camps, with provisions to ensure the privacy of people from different families is respected. Access to the camps will be restricted to family members only.

Each camp will have a reception area for visitors wishing to meet those staying in the camps. Local body elected representatives will be available within the camp for any assistance.

The Chief Minister has stated that individuals should not go directly to the camps to distribute relief goods, as such contributions will be declined.

The government will organize facilities to continue the education of children from the affected areas. Given the enormous tragedy that has greatly impacted the populace, the government will also arrange for counselling services. Experts will be brought in to offer counselling to those affected, assisting them.

Efforts are underway to relocate Adivasi families from the forest. District authorities will arrange for the delivery of food, water, and other necessities to their locations should they choose to remain in their forest settlements.

Following the disaster, the Chief Minister met with the families in the relief camps who were impacted by the tragedy. He expressed that the situation in Wayanad is a severe calamity and called for public collaboration with the health department to avert a pandemic in the region.

The landslide resulted in the loss of many animals, both livestock and pets. Steps are being taken to ensure the proper disposal of the animal remains.

Meanwhile, several NGOs, social and religious groups, voluntary organisations have undertaken massive campaigns for collecting relief material for the affected areas in Wayanad district. Hundreds of vehicles have been arranged to send relief materials to the disaster-hit areas of Mundakkai and Chooralmala.

Government and private organisations, individuals and NGOs are contributing generously towards the chief minister's disaster relief fund.