Wayanad Forest Officers' Heroic Rescue of Stranded Tribal Family

In Wayanad, a recent landslide has brought to light the heroic efforts of forest officers who rescued a tribal family. The family, including four toddlers aged between one and four, was stranded in a cave atop a hill. The rescue mission was led by Kalpetta Range Forest Officer K Hashis and his team.

The team embarked on a perilous trek deep into the forest on Thursday to reach the Paniya community family. It took over four and a half hours to navigate the treacherous terrain. "We found the mother and a four-year-old child wandering near the forest," Hashis said on Friday. Upon inquiry, they learned about the rest of the family stranded without food.

Rescue Operation Amidst Adverse Conditions

Hashis explained that the family typically avoids interaction with outsiders and survives on forest products. Due to the landslide and heavy rains, they couldn't procure food. The officers faced slippery and steep rocks amid heavy downpours during their journey. "The children were tired, and we fed them with whatever we had carried," Hashis added.

The officers had to tie ropes to trees and rocks to climb the hazardous terrain. After much persuasion, the father agreed to accompany them. They tied the children to their bodies for safety during the trek back. The team returned to the Attamala anti-poaching office, where the children were fed and given clothes and footwear.

Recognition of Heroic Efforts

The visual of an officer holding a child close went viral on social media on Friday. Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan praised the forest officials' efforts on social media. "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," Vijayan posted on X.

Alongside Hashis, section forest officer B S Jayachandran, beat forest officer K Anil Kumar, and Rapid Response Team member Anoop Thomas participated in the seven-kilometer-long rescue mission. As rains intensified, most tribal community members in Wayanad were moved to secure locations by the forest department.

The rescued family had been living inside the forest for some time before being stranded due to the landslide. Currently, they are housed at the Attamala anti-poaching office, where they are safe and receiving care.

The rescue operation highlights Kerala's resilience in times of crisis. The bravery of these forest officers serves as a reminder of hope and unity as they continue to rebuild after natural disasters.