KOZHIKODE: A four-member forest team spent several hours trekking through 8km of rocky terrain to rescue a tribal family of six, including four minor children, from a cave in Attamala area of Wayanad‘s Chooralmala on Thursday.
The team, led by Kalpetta forest range officer K Ashif, had found Santha, a woman belonging to the Paniya community, and her baby wandering in the forest on Tuesday, the day the landslides struck Chooralmala and Mundakkai.
When they saw Santha again two days later on Thursday in search of food, they were told that her husband Krishnan and three other children were inside the cave atop a hill facing a gorge. The officers took Santha to a camp.
Later, the team ventured in search of her other family members amid downpour.Armed with a rope, courage and risking their lives, the foresters made their way through treacherous terrain dotted with rocks left slippery due to heavy rain.
They descended steep slopes using the rope secured to trees. Four hours later, they reached the cave and found the father and children huddled around a fireplace. The children were seen eating fruits. The kids were given some of the food the officers had carried with them. After much persuasion, Krishnan agreed to accompany the officers with his children.
Carrying the kids, holding them to their chests by tying them with ripped clothes, the foresters started the return journey. Yet again, the team ventured through the same risky route by ensuring the children were safe. Nearly five hours later, they reached their destination, reuniting Krishnan with Santha and their kids at the camp.
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