Community rescue squads resume activities in Kozhikode’s landslide-prone areas

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Community rescue squads resumed their activities in several grama panchayats in the upland regions of Kozhikode district as part of efforts to mitigate the impact of rain-related calamities. The Community Rescue Volunteers (CRV) initiative, launched several years ago to strengthen the network of first responders during natural disasters, is now part of a district-wide system functioning under the coordination of various uniformed forces involved in disaster management.

Training programmes and enrolment drives for new rescue volunteers have been completed in many vulnerable areas to ensure communities are prepared to respond to emergencies during the monsoon season. Panchayat-level meetings were recently held in coordination with village and taluk authorities to assess priorities and streamline preparedness measures.

Local body representatives who played a key role in strengthening the rescue squads lauded the interventions of the District Disaster Management Authority in ensuring the availability of basic lifesaving equipment and accessories for rescue teams. In several landslide-prone villages, additional volunteers were inducted after addressing earlier challenges related to funding, training and coordination.

A comprehensive directory of community rescue squads is also being prepared in several panchayats for public access. According to Revenue department sources, these regional directories are likely to be integrated under a single platform for easier coordination and access. Officials said the system would help authorities quickly mobilise volunteers during emergencies.

Revenue department officials said a comprehensive safety audit covering ecologically sensitive areas facing recurring landslide threats had already been completed to facilitate appropriate mitigation measures. Heightened vigil has now been imposed in grama panchayats such as Thiruvambady, Kattippara, Kavilumpara, Kayakkodi and Vanimel, where previous landslides and mudslides had claimed lives, they said.