Lagatar24 Desk
New Delhi: In a remarkable display of efficiency and dedication, the Indian Army’s Madras Engineering Group constructed a 190-feet-long Bailey bridge within 24 hours, connecting the severely impacted areas of Mundakkai and Chooralmala in Kerala’s Wayanad district. These regions were devastated by landslides on Tuesday.
The construction of the bridge began at 9:30 PM on Wednesday and was completed by 5:30 PM on Thursday. Major General VT Mathew, General Officer Commanding of the Karnataka and Kerala Sub-Area, crossed the newly built bridge in his official vehicle, demonstrating its structural integrity and capacity to support up to 24 tonnes.
“The bridge has significantly eased the transportation of men and materials,” Major General Mathew told NDTV. “There is hope of finding more survivors. We are searching everywhere, but some people are too frightened to leave their homes, and others cannot reach out for help. Sadly, we are also searching for bodies.”
District officials have provided a death toll, but the army and other personnel have recovered 120 bodies so far. “The actual number of deceased is likely higher; these are just the bodies we’ve found,” Major General Mathew added.
Efforts to locate the missing continue, with plans to deploy radar equipment and the use of sniffer dogs to find bodies buried deep in the debris. Thermal scanners are also in use, though their effectiveness is limited since they cannot detect heat from deceased bodies.
Initially, rescue workers had constructed temporary wooden bridges to cross the affected landmasses and assist stranded individuals. However, these makeshift structures failed during heavy rainfall on Wednesday.
The materials required for the Bailey bridge were flown into Kannur airport from Delhi and Bengaluru and transported to Wayanad by 17 trucks. This swift and efficient operation by the Indian Army has been crucial in enhancing the ongoing rescue and relief efforts in Wayanad.
Rescue teams are racing against time under harsh conditions to find survivors trapped in collapsed buildings. The total number of confirmed deaths has now exceeded 290.
