Wayanad rescue team guards decomposing body overnight in dense forest | Video

Meppadi: Members of the Emergency Rescue Force in Nilambur involved in the Wayanad landslide rescue operations faced a harrowing ordeal when they became stranded overnight in a dense, dark forest, tasked with safeguarding a decomposing body. Their saga unfolded as follows:

Early on Sunday morning, a team of 40 ventured from Nilambur for rescue efforts. Along Soochipara road via Munderi, they found several bodies, then proceeded to the Parappanpara area. Due to physical challenges, 22 members returned.

Later, the remaining team unearthed a body in the river near Soochipara, buried 4 meters deep with only a leg protruding from the mud. By nightfall, they extricated the body but realized they could only exit the forest the next morning. Alerting the control room, they were advised to stay put. Throughout the night, two team members alternated guarding the body.

At dawn, a Special Operations group set out to locate them. To signal their location, the stranded workers lit a fire, hoping the smoke would be seen. Drones aided in their rescue.

The dead body was airlifted, and subsequently, the relief workers were evacuated. Team leader Abdul Majeed emphasized their primary goal was to return the body to the victim's family.