The Indian Army, State police and local rescue groups, including fisherfolks from Kollam, are currently involved in intense rescue operations in Pathanamthitta, Ranni and Chenganoor localities devastated by flood waters. More men, including special forces with diving and rescue equipment and helicopters, are expected to arrive soon to deploy in impacted areas across the States.
Inspector General of Police, Thiruvananthapuram Range, Manoj Abraham told The Hindu that emergency responders have so far rescued 220 persons since Wednesday.
He said occupants of single floor houses had escaped the flood waters early. However, those residing in high rises and two-storied houses were reluctant to move, betting that they could sit out the deluge. Panic set in when the waters continued to rise, power failed, and the residents found themselves cut off from the rest of the world. Mr. Abraham said that homes suddenly became dangerous traps for its occupants who had not followed the flood advisory.
Many sought refuge on the roof-top and watched helplessly as flood waters inundated the lower floors. Hundreds pleaded for help through social media, Whatsapp groups, television stations and relatives abroad.
Emergency responders could not always keep pace with the influx of rescue requests through the few helplines they had put in place.
However, the calls helped the police get a better understanding of the most affected areas by analysing the location data of mobile and land phone distress calls.
The 13 Garhwal Rifles of the Indian Army arrived with dinghies. They are working alongside fisherfolks from Kollam and Thiruvananthapuram, who came with 42 shallow draught boats.
Social media postings provided an intimate view of the disaster. One post, which went viral, showed a man standing in neck-deep water on the ground floor of the house and describing his plight to the world. Equally distressing scenes of stranded persons played out on Whatsapp and Facebook, spurring rescue efforts.
A senior army officer involved in the rescue operations said rushing waist-deep water impeded movement of rescue workers and dinghies.
