Southern Naval Command continued #OperationMadad with all available resources at its disposal, due to the unprecedented flooding experienced in many parts of Kerala, owing to incessant rainfall and release of excess water from Idukki and other dams. Based on a request received from Deputy Collector, Wayanad,  one diving team with Gemini inflatable boat was airlifted and sent to Kalpetta on Thursday night to undertake rescue operations due to floods and landslides. Three teams with inflatable Gemini boats commenced rescue operations at Panmarum (13 km south of Mananthwady) and evacuated 55 stranded people till Friday afternoon. Three additional diving teams also proceeded to the affected areas for augmenting the rescue operations. Two more diving teams for relief operations are standby at Aluva in coordination with the  Deputy Collector in anticipation of flooding expected in Ernakulam and Aluva. In addition, the Command Hospital, INHS Sanjivani and community kitchen of INS Venduruthy have been kept standby for rendering any help needed.

The Naval helicopters are being deployed for ferrying divers, power tools, axes and relief material to the flooded areas to augment ongoing relief operations. Army and Air Force swung into action for the disaster relief and rescue operation which is going on in the disaster hit districts In Kerala.

Total eight columns of Army have been deployed in different parts of kerala according to military sources.

The Army station located at Pangode in Trivandrum had already deployed one column of Army personnel under the supervision of a Captain rank officer in Idukki district. They are stationed at Adimali in Idukki and rescue operation is progressing.

DSC Kannur has deployed one more column of DSC personnel to Idukki making it two column of defence personnel in operation. DSC Kannur has deployed four more column at Iritty, Thamarassery, Wayanad and Malappuram.

The rescue mission in Wayanad district is controlled by a Lieutenant Colonel. One column of Army posted by DSC Kannur at Wayanad divided themselves into two groups and one in Vaithiry and Panamaram areas in Wayanad. They are carrying out rescue operations in close quarter with the Civil Administration.

The DSC personnel with three columns cleared road blocks so as to clear flow of water in the right direction and made temporary bridges in the Thamarassery Churam and Kozhikode. Due to the unfavourable climate the team took almost eight hours to travel 46 km.

Two column MEG of Indian Army from Bangalore and one column from Hyderabad were deployed in various affected areas.

The Indian Air Force pressed into action two helicopters for the search and rescue operation for rescuing people stranded in remote locations. One Mi-17IV and an ALH helicopters were deployed from Sulur Air Force base. One AN-32 aircraft was flown to Arakkonam in Tamil Nadu to airlift the NDRF personnel for enhanced rescue operations and brought them to Kozhikode.

The timely intervention and assistance by the defence forces helped affected people bring to safer places. The rescue operation carried out by Army and Air Force in association with NDRF personnel is still going onRescue task completed. In a daring act of Search and Rescue , 10 tribals including 03 males, 04 females and 03 children below 05 yr age were evacuated from top of a mountain in dense chery forest in pitch dark night under incessant rains.
The army column rescue climb and established contact with tribals est at around midnight. The tribals were stranded in three places under hostile conditions. Army sources told NewsBasics that a wait till morning could have threatened lives of the old couple and small kids.