Dismembered bodies and body parts: Rescue personnel share painful episodes from Wayanad tragedy

Meppadi: The entire village has been shaken by a devastating landslide, leaving search teams scrambling to find survivors and the deceased. The community, consisting of service personnel, volunteer organisations, and ordinary citizens, is united in their efforts.

The scale of the disaster is overwhelming. Those searching for lost loved ones are inconsolable, with many still missing. Those buried up to their necks in mud and stranded children have been rescued with ropes. Approximately 400 fire service personnel are actively involved in the rescue operations. “The situation is more terrifying than a battlefield, with shocking scenes everywhere and moments where we are at a loss,” said Prajilal, Assistant Station Officer at Neyyattinkara Fire Station, who has been assisting in the rescue mission at Chooralmala.

Three teams from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), each consisting of 30 members, are engaged in the rescue efforts. The team from Meenangadi was the first to arrive. Commandant Akhilesh Yadav led the operations from Arakonam, clearing the route to Mundakkai and rescuing the stranded with ropes. They also reached Punjirimattam, bringing a glimmer of hope. “We didn’t even know if there were wells in the area. Finding bodies, especially those of children, was particularly heartbreaking,” said team member Vaishakh.

Forest officials were also among the first responders. Over ninety forest department personnel are working at the disaster site under the leadership of South DFO (Wayanad) Ajith K. Raman.“A teacher from a nearby house called, reporting noise. When we arrived, a man was running, warning that the river was coming behind. We then encountered another family covered in mud. We rescued around fifty people using the jeep’s headlights, including a family stranded in Attamala forest,” said Sajin, Beat Forest Officer.

With heavy hearts...

“Frequently, we encountered body parts that were unrecognisable. The sight when we lifted a slab from a destroyed house was indescribable. Two children were found dead holding each other,” said Havildar Saju.

“In Mundakkai, we found a 30-year-old woman in a semi-conscious state, only able to say, ‘My daughter... the mud...’ She repeatedly mentioned that her two-year-old daughter was buried under the mud. It was a situation where nothing could be done,” added Havildar Sharath Lal.