Drones deliver food to relief workers in landslide-hit Wayanad villages

Wayand: In the aftermath of devastating landslides in Wayanad villages, authorities are utilising unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) to transport essential food supplies to inaccessible areas. Drones capable of carrying food packets for up to 10 people at a time have been deployed to sustain rescue personnel navigating hazardous terrains in search of survivors and victims.

A streamlined food and water delivery system has been established to support the extensive rescue operations. Drones are crucial in delivering food directly to personnel operating heavy machinery such as Hitachi and JCB equipment, as stated in an official release on Monday. Food for the rescue teams is being prepared at the Community Kitchen at Meppadi Polytechnic, overseen by the Food Safety Department.

The Kerala Hotel and Restaurant Association, under strict supervision, prepares approximately 7,000 food packets daily for distribution to those in need. Meanwhile, the recovery efforts have so far retrieved 221 bodies and 166 body parts of the landslide victims as of Sunday evening. The number of missing individuals has decreased from 206 to 180 after authorities successfully contacted some of them via phone, according to updates provided on Sunday. PTI