PUNE: Hilly area, stiff slope, poor road connectivity and continuous rain has made it difficult for the rescue team to carry out rescue operations at Malin village near Bhimashankar. After the incident of landslide took place, National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) has deployed 350 personnel at the disaster site and along with them team of doctors of Maharashtra Emergency Medical Service (MEMS) is also at the site, carrying out rescue operations.
Difficult terrain to carry out rescue operation
The Malin village is nearly 100 km away from Pune before Bhimashankar. The village is situated at the hilltop and the road which goes towards the village is extremely narrow where there is Dimbhe dam on one side of the road and valley on the other side. Since there is no alternate route, all the vehicles were stuck there and there was a traffic jam of nearly 12 kilometers due to which the rescue teams and ambulances had a tough time in reaching at the site.
Though the incident took place at around 7 to 8 am, it took NDRF team more than five hours to reach the disaster site and start the rescue operation. The continuous rain was adding to the problems for the rescue teams.
Speaking to media, Resident deputy collector Suresh Jadhav said, " It will take at least two days for the rescue work at Malin village. It is an hilly area and it was very difficult for the rescue teams to reach the spot."
Speaking about the rescue operation, Jadhav said, " We got the information about the incident at around 8 am but we still do not know at what time the landslide took place. Till Wednesday evening, 15 dead bodies were extracted from the debris while 14 injured persons were rescued."
NDRF deploys additional manpower
The fifth battalion of NDRF which is situated at Talegaon was alerted by the district administration after which the NDRF officials sent two teams including 100 personnel for the rescue operation. Alok Avasthy, commandant of fifth battalion of NDRF told dna, " We got a call from 10.45 am from district management after which we sent couple of teams equipped with all the search and rescue equipment and canine squad."
However after reaching the spot, the NDRF officials realised that it is a daunting task of rescue and therefore two more teams of NDRF were called from Talegaon to Malin village. According to the NDRF officials, at present total 350 personnel are carrying out rescue work at the disaster site.
Maharashtra Emergency Medical Service (MEMS) found it difficult to reach the site.
As soon as the MEMS received the information about the disaster, total 28 ambulances with a doctor and medical staff in each ambulances were sent to the Malin village. However, the road was jammed and therefore only six out of 28 ambulances could reach the spot by Wednesday afternoon. According to the one of the managers who had gone to the Malin village along with the ambulances, the situation at the disaster site is very bad and it is a very difficult task to rescue the victims. The area is also so remotely located that we could not make contact with the control room.
The Pimpri Chinchwad municipal corporation sent a 50 member rescue team that has experts from disaster management, fire brigade, medical, health and security departments.
Satish Ingle, executive engineer, vigilance department PCMC and coordinator of the rescue team said, "It is an unimaginable loss to human lives, the whole village has been wiped out. The rain is making rescue operation difficult."
The rescue aid includes five flood lights, generator, mask, Pneumatic lifting bags, hydraulic spreaders and cutters are sent along with the medical team their doctors, 2 ambulance, 2 medical officers, 2 nurses, 4 ward boys and all necessary medical tools are sent.
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