Heroic Army Officer Aids Landslide Rescue Efforts Despite Personal Tragedy

JCO Jinosh Jayan of the Indian Army, who lost four family members to the Wayanad landslides, plays a crucial role in rescue operations by leveraging his local knowledge and surveying skills. His efforts have been recognized by senior officials. A scientific team is also assessing the disaster area.

Despite losing four family members in a devastating landslide, Junior Commissioned Officer Jinosh Jayan of the Indian Army's 321 Medium Regiment is playing a critical role in rescue operations in Kerala’s Wayanad District. Hailing from Chooralmala, Jayan lost his uncle, cousin, cousin's wife, and their 21-year-old daughter in the July 30 disaster that killed over 300 people and destroyed numerous buildings.

Sub Jinosh’s parents managed to escape to a safer location. Upon learning about the tragedy, he immediately requested emergency leave and rushed to Wayanad. He quickly joined the rescue mission with the Army’s Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) teams, Special Operations Group (SOG), and the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF). Utilizing his local knowledge, Jayan greatly helped the teams navigate the challenging terrain.

As an expert surveyor, Sub Jinosh created hand-drawn maps that were invaluable to the rescue teams. Since August 1, he has been an essential part of the ongoing HADR missions, tirelessly searching for more victims. His exceptional contributions have been recognized by Additional Director General of Police MR Ajith Kumar, IPS, and Inspector General MR Sethu Raman.

Meanwhile, a five-member expert team led by senior scientist John Matthai from the National Centre for Geosciences inspected the disaster-hit areas in Wayanad's Meppadi panchayat. Due to adverse weather, the inspection was called off in the afternoon but will continue until August 15. The team aims to understand the cause of the landslide and assess ongoing risks, reporting their findings to the government.