New Delhi: Indian Army is deeply involved in the Rescue & Relief operations in Kerala which is witnessing very heavy rains since 09 August 2018. Request for provision of Army assistance was received on 09 August 2018. Accordingly, Indian Army carried out execution of Disaster Relief tasks on a war footing which has been greatly appreciated by civilian populace and the State administration.
As on date total of 10 flood relief columns, each having an approximate strength of 65 personnels are carrying out rescue operations in ten districts of Kerala. The details of flood relief columns are as under:-
| Serial | Column Number | Place of Deployment | Date of Deployment |
| (a) | Column 1 & 2 | Ayyankunnu (Kannur) | 09 Aug 2018
16 Aug 2018 |
| (b) | Column 3 | Mananthwady (Wayanad) | 09 Aug 2018 |
| (c) | Column 4 | Kozikode | 09 Aug 2018 |
| (d) | Column 5
|
Karuvarukundu & Nilambur (Malappuram) | 09 Aug 2018 |
| (e) | Column 6 | Adimali, Idukki | 10 Aug 2018 |
| (f) | Column 7 | Aluwa, Ernakulam | 11 Aug 2018 |
| (g) | Column 8 | Ernakulam | 13 Aug 2018 |
| (h) | Column 9 | Pathnamathitta | 13 Aug 2018 |
| (j) | Column 10 | Thiruvanantpuram | 15 Aug 2018 |
In addition to the 10 flood relief columns, 10 Engineer Task Forces (ETF) each having an approximate strength of 40 personnels from Jodhpur, Bhopal, Pune, Bangalore and Secunderabad have been pressed into action. Army is also utilising 53 military boats to evacuate civilians from flood affected areas. The details of ETF are as under:-
| Serial | Column Number | Place of Deployment | Date of Deployment |
| (a) | ETF 1 | Munnar, Idukki | 09 Aug 2018 |
| (b) | ETF 2 | Ernakulam | 09 Aug 2018 |
| (c) | ETF 3 | Pathnamathitta | 11 Aug 2018 |
| (d) | ETF 4,5,6 | Thrissur | 16 Aug 2018 |
| (e) | ETF 7,8,9 | Trivendrum | 16 Aug 2018
17 Aug 2018 |
| (f) | ETF 10 | Kozhikode | 17 Aug 2018 |
Inspite of continuous and heavy rains, Indian Army columns are working round the clock to restore connectivity to remote villages by constructing temporary foot bridges, bunds and preparing alternate routes. 13 temporary bridges were constructed to reconnect 38 remote areas and total of 3627 personnels have been rescued till date, which include 22 foreign nationals.
Relief materials have been sent to 19 villages with medical aid being provided to approximately 500 civilians till date. In addition 3000 pre-cooked meals and 300 life jackets have been handed over to civil administration on 17 Aug 2018.
