Armed forces in heroic role in Kerala rescue operations

Thiruvananthapuram: India’s armed forces have been playing a heroic role in Kerala over the past four days, rescuing people across the length and breadth of the state.

Some of the affected were marooned in their houses, some held up hands from their terraces to be airlifted, and many others sent social media messages from hospitals, homes or hostels where they were engulfed by the flood waters.

Pictures: Thousands await rescue amid deadly Kerala floods

Armed forces stretched themselves hard to reach all of the affected persons.

Vijay Sharma, one of the pilots who has been at work for long hours over the past few days, told a television channel that there was also immense satisfaction that came along with the hard work.

People are airlifted by the Indian Navy soldiers during a rescue operation at a flooded area in the southern state of Kerala.  REUTERS

Verma had been instrumental in airlifting a pregnant woman on Thursday, who was later moved to the navy hospital in Kochi. A few hours later, she gave birth to a healthy baby.

“It was a surprise for me to see the pictures of the woman and child on social media. It gives such satisfaction”, Verma said.

Indian army personal evacuate local residents in a residential area at Aluva in Ernakulam district, in the Indian state of Kerala. AFP

In some areas, the army resorted to ingenuous methods like using tree trunks as temporary bridges to evacuate affected people.

The services of the defence personnel have earned wide praise in the state, and opposition leader Ramesh Chennithala has appealed to Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan to hand over the rescue and relief work to the armed forces.

Indian Air Force personnel carry out rescue operations at a flood-affected region following heavy monsoon rainfall, in Kochi, Kerala.  PTI

Bharatiya Janata Party state president, P.S. Sreedharan Pillai has gone to the extent of saying that his party would approach the law courts if the rescue work was not given to the armed forces.

Pillai said other states faced with similar calamities had depended on the armed forces.

The armed forces have focused on some of the worst-hit areas in the state including Chengannur, Chalakkudy, Aluva and Angamaly.

Earlier in the week, they had rescued dozens of people in Ranni, which was inundated.

The chief minister said the state government had sought more boats and helicopters from the federal government during his meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday.