Kerala School Group Rescued After 10-Hour Ordeal in Ooty Mudslide Zone
• A group of 78 students and seven staff members from Buchanan Girls High School, Kerala, were stranded for nearly 10 hours near Burliar and Coonoor in Tamil Nadu due to mudslides triggered by heavy rains on 23 October
• The group was returning from an excursion to Ooty when their buses were caught in a traffic jam caused by the disaster. Poor mobile connectivity and the darkness of night added to the confusion. Rescue teams, including the NDRF and local authorities, evacuated the stranded passengers by Saturday morning. All students and staff were safely transported to Mettupalayam, where they were provided with food and water.
Impact & Risks
The mudslides caused significant disruption, leaving multiple vehicles stranded on the Ooty-Mettupalayam highway. The students and staff endured a long and distressing wait, with some experiencing panic and fainting. The incident highlights the risks of travelling in hilly areas during heavy rains, as landslides can occur suddenly and block roads, leaving travellers vulnerable.
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