Viral Video: Pinarayi Vijayan, the chief minister of Kerala, praised the courageous eight-hour rescue mission by forest officials in Wayanad, which is beset by landslides, and received great applause on social media for saving four toddlers and their parents from a tribal village. Three landslides earlier this week in Wayanad resulted in over 350 deaths and hundreds of missing persons.
A Brave Mission Amidst Nature’s Fury
Undertaking a perilous four-hour trek deep into the forest, braving heavy rain and treacherous terrain, a dedicated four-member team led by Kalpetta Range Forest Officer K Hashis rescued the tribal family. The children, aged between one and four years, were stranded in a cave atop a hill.
Forest Officer K Hashis recounted the harrowing operation. The rescue began when he spotted the children’s mother wandering the Attamala forest in search of food. She revealed that they had been without sustenance for over five days.
Stranded in the Wild
The woman led the forest officers to a cave where the toddlers and their father were sheltering. The family, belonging to the Paniya community of Wayanad, generally avoids interaction with outsiders and survives on forest products, which they sell to buy rice. The recent landslides and heavy rains had made it impossible for them to procure food.
“We encountered slippery and steep rocks amid heavy showers,” Hashis shared. “The children were tired, and we fed them with whatever we had carried. We tied the children to our bodies and started our trek back.”
The family was securely brought to the Attamala anti-poaching office by the crew, who utilised ropes to navigate the challenging terrain. There, the kids received clothing and food.
Netizens Salute Kerala Forest Officials
Commendation from the Chief Minister
Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan lauded the heroic efforts of the forest officers. “Their heroism reminds us that Kerala’s resilience shines brightest in the darkest times. United in hope, we will rebuild and emerge stronger,” he stated.
Images of one of the officers holding a child during the rescue went viral on social media, further highlighting the bravery and dedication of the rescue team. Along with K Hashis, the team comprised Section Forest Officer BS Jayachandran, Beat Forest Officer K Anil Kumar, and Rapid Response Team member Anoop Thomas.
Controversy Over Early Warnings
In a related development, a privilege complaint was filed against Union Home Minister Amit Shah by Congress MP Jairam Ramesh. The notice objects to Shah’s claim that early warnings were given to the Kerala government about the landslides, a claim which Ramesh refuted.
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