- By Imran Zafar
- Tue, 30 Jul 2024 02:15 PM (IST)
- Source:JND
A man was seen clinging to a huge boulder as he attempted to survive in flood waters after a landslide in Kerala’s Wayanad district on Tuesday. The man, suspected to have been washed away by the flood, was trapped between large boulders, unable to stand or swim to safety due to thick marsh and strong currents.
The visuals, captured by a villager, showed the man's desperate attempts to survive amidst the scattered boulders. These were broadcast by television channels, prompting authorities to send rescue teams to the location.
"He is trapped near the local school in Mundakkai. He caught our attention at around 7:30 am. He is still trying not to be carried away by the floodwaters and is struggling to stand in the thick marsh," Raghavan, a block panchayat member who recorded the scene on his mobile phone, said as quoted by news agency PTI.
Despite seeing the man's survival efforts, villagers were unable to reach him due to the strong currents and marsh. The man was suspected to be swept away in the floodwaters as the rescue team failed to reach the spot to save him.
The landslides, triggered by heavy rainfall, had trapped hundreds of people in the area. Rescue operations are ongoing in several villages to help the affected population. The Kerala government has also set up various helpline numbers to assist those affected by the landslide. The toll-free number is 1077, while the district administration helpline numbers are:
District Emergency Operation Centre - 04936 204151, 9562804151, 8078409770
Sulthan Bathery Taluk Emergency Operation Centre - 04936 223355-220296, 6238461385
Mananthavadi Taluk Emergency Operation Centre - 04935 241111-240231, 9446637748
Vythiri Taluk Emergency Operation Centre- 04936 256100, 8590842965, 9447097705
(With PTI Inputs)