Kottayam: Three high-ranking Malayalis are spearheading the army's operations in landslide-ravaged Wayanad. All three are alumni of Kazhakkoottam Sainik School.

The army constructed a Bailey Bridge on a war-footing to rescue survivors in Mundakkai, which was devastated by landslides. Major General Vinod T Mathew, a native of Thodupuzha and a student of Kazhakootam Sainik School from 1978 to 1985, is leading the army's operations in Wayanad. He serves as the Karnataka-Kerala Commander, overseeing the troops from Kozhikode and Kannur.

Air Marshal B Manikantan, who studied at Sainik School from 1976 to 1983, leads the Air Force mission. Under the leadership of the South Region Air Force Chief B Manikantan, DHRUV helicopters and Garud commandos were deployed to Wayanad. He hails from Thiruvarpu in Kottayam.

Brigadier MP Salil, the Pangode station commander of the Army and a student of Kazhakootam Sainik School from 1985 to 1992, is a native of Neyyattinkara. He was instrumental in the immediate deployment of two hundred soldiers in response to the disaster.