Kochi, Aug 19 : Southern Naval Command (SNC) continued their ‘’Operation Madad’’on the 11th day on Sunday and rescued more than 15,000 people, who are stranded in various parts of Kerala due to flash flood.
At an even greater tempo, to meet the increasing requests for relief and rescue from the affected areas of the state, the SNC rescue teams had been augmented by Gemini boats, divers and other resources from both Eastern and Western Naval Commands of the India Navy.
The total number of diving teams deployed were 92, which have been sent to multiple locations across the affected districts. Twenty newly inducted teams were put into action today, to augment those already in place. Rescue operations were extended to two more districts of Kannur and Alappuzha, in addition to the three districts already covered like Thrissur, Ernakulam and Pathanamthitta.
A total of 14,797 people have been rescued by boats, over 609 people airlifted to safety and relief material worth 800 kg air dropped till date, a defence release said here on Sunday.
A total of 48 rescue teams with one Gemini boat each are deployed in Ernakulam district at various places. One team is at Pizhala island, one at Edapally, seven at Perumbavur, 16 at North Paravur, 10 at Aluva, four at Muvattupuzha, seven at Kadangallur and two at Athani. About 250 persons located at Moolamvelli Church were shifted in civil boats to a safe place by the rescue team at Pizhala island.
As water levels started to recede, the rescue team expanded the area of operations to include eight nearby islands. The rescue efforts in the district have expanded to include Athani near Nedumbassery.
In Thrissur district, the deployment at Chalakkudy has been reduced to seven teams and another three teams are deployed at Mala. In Pathanamthitta district, ten teams are deployed at Chengannur, 17 at Thiruvalla, and one team each at Ayroor and Pullad.
Meanwhile, the deployment of teams at Wayanad district was called off as the situation improved and the teams were diverted to other more critical locations. One rescue team is positioned at Kannur and 19 teams are in Alappuzha district.
In addition, all air assets available at INS Garuda have been extensively utilised for winching up stranded personnel, transfer of stores, boats, and provision of relief material – especially food and water. Air rescue has been carried out at various places in all four districts like Thrissur, Ernakulam, Alappuzha and Pathanamthitta. Various aircrafts including ALH, Sea King, Chetak and MI 17 (of IAF) were able to rescue more than 59 people today.
Relief material consisting of over a lakh food packets, along with bottled water and medicines, were also airdropped on the roof tops of various houses/ churches. Ten woman in advanced stages of pregnancy were also airlifted to safety.
The Naval Air Station, Garuda has facilitated the undertaking civil aviation operations from Naval Base, Kochi. An interaction at Garuda chaired by Joint DGCA and attended by CIAL APD, CISF and representatives of various airlines was held to review the airfield facilities available and the layout of arrival departure plans, it added.
