Tech-Enhanced Rescue Operations in Wayanad Landslide Aftermath

Rescue efforts in Wayanad's landslide-affected areas employ GPS coordinates from drones and cell phone data to identify critical locations. District Collector Meghashree D R indicated that 40 rescue teams, along with cadaver dogs and heavy machinery, are deployed across six zones. The disaster has resulted in substantial casualties and many remain missing.

In a cutting-edge rescue effort, authorities in Wayanad are using GPS coordinates from aerial drone pictures and cell phones to pinpoint critical locations for search operations in landslide-affected areas, District Collector Meghashree D R announced on Friday.

The worst-affected hamlets, Mundakkai and Chooralmala, have been divided into six zones, each manned by teams of rescuers equipped with cadaver dogs and heavy machinery. The Collector mentioned that drone photographs and cell phone data, including the last known locations of residents, have been pivotal in identifying search spots.

'We mapped all this data and distributed it to the teams to ensure efficient and speedy search and rescue operations,' Collector Meghashree D R stated. Despite these advancements, rescue personnel continue to face challenges such as waterlogged soil, as they hunt for survivors or bodies. Over 200 people are missing, with 190 confirmed dead as of Thursday night.