Kerala plane crash: Commendable Rescue by locals

 

Kerala plane crash: Commendable Rescue by locals: 

The local residents of  Karipur and Kondotty nearby localities of Calicut international airport in Malappuram district came running to the crash site within minutes and began carrying the injured passengers in whatever vehicles they got to hospitals braving heavy rains. Initially the locals were not allowed by the lone CISF personnel manning the periphery gate of the airport.

When the airport security realized there were not enough personnel to rescue the injured, they allowed locals to start rescue operations and shift the injured on whatever vehicle they managed to catch before the ambulances began arriving.

Despite the heavy rain and coming from Covid Containment Zone, the villagers entered the parted away aircraft and rescued each and every ill-fated passengers. This helped to complete the rescue operation of 191 passengers including 41 children and six crew within two hours thus considerably reducing the death toll.

At least 18 persons, including the pilot and co-pilot were killed when the Dubai-Calicut Air India Boeing 737-800 aircraft carrying 191 passengers including six crew skidded off the runway at Kerala’s Calicut airport and fell into a 35-feet gorge before splitting into two pieces late Friday evening. Dozens of local people were engaged in helping the injured before the police and Fire and Rescue personnel swung into action. 

The locals in Karipur and Kondotty along with police and health personnel have rescued and moved almost everyone from the crash site to various hospitals within two hours.

 The flight was split into two pieces right at the center and it was the first time that locals saw such a horrible incident but the shock never delayed them in acting swiftly to extricate passengers trapped inside the broken aircraft. The women and children pulled out were bleeding profusely and crying for help. The scene was sorrowful and indeed frightening.

Soon after the accident, many Whatsapp groups were flooded with  messages, requesting to identify children who were separated from their parents during the accident.  Many of them were soon identified and claimed by their parents and relatives.  

Hours after the incident, several people queued up outside the blood bank in Kozhikode Medical College at midnight to donate blood for those injured.