Kerala forest officials rescue 6 tribals, including 4 kids after Wayanad landslides in 8-hour mission

Forest department officials in the Indian state of Keralasuccessfully rescued a tribal family, including four young children, who were trapped in a cave following the Wayanad landslides.

A team of four, headed by Kalpetta range forest officer KHashis, carried out the rescue operation. The family, with children aged between one and four, was saved after a four-and-a-half-hour operation one way.

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"The family is from the Paniya community of Wayanad, and had been stranded in a cave atop a hill overlooking a deep gorge," Hashis told the news agency PTI.

Hashis reported that they discovered themother and her four-year-old child searching for food for the other children and their father, who were trapped in a cave.

Watch |India: Death toll touches 358 in Kerala landslides

Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan praised the forest department for their courage during an eight-hour rescue mission that involved trekking through the dense forests of the Western Ghats.

Pinarayi Vijayan in a poston X said, “Six precious lives were saved from a remote tribal settlement after a tireless 8-hour operation by our courageous forest officials in landslide-hit Wayanad. Their heroism reminds us that Kerala's resilience shines brightest in the darkest times. United in hope, we will rebuild and emerge stronger.”

As the rainfall intensified, the forest department moved most of the tribal community members in Wayanad to safer areas. Hashis explained that the tribal community relied on forest products and typically avoided interactions with others.

"However, it seems like, due to the landslide and the heavy rain, they were unable to procure any food," he said. The path to rescue the tribals was a steep incline, particularly with the heavy rain. Officers had to tie ropes to trees and rocks to navigate, which he described as hazardous.

He added, “The children were tired, and we fed them with whatever we had carried. Later, after much persuasion, their father agreed to come with us, and we tied the children to our bodies and started our trek back."

On Tuesday, landslides in the Wayanad district caused major damage to roads, bridges, and other public infrastructure, leaving people stuck in affected areas. With over 300lives lost, this disaster is the worst Kerala has experienced since the 2018 floods.

(With inputs from agencies)