Fire and rescue staff get rope training for dangerous river spots

Fire and Rescue Services personnel in Kozhikode underwent specialised rope rescue training following a rise in accidents involving visitors drawn to unfamiliar spots by social media reels. The training focused on dangerous stretches of the Iruvazhinji river. Tourists often get stuck on river islets because of sudden flash floods and strong currents, especially within the limits of the Mukkom fire station. To tackle this, the Kozhikode regional fire officer ordered comprehensive training for staff across stations in Kozhikode, Wayanad, and Kannur districts.

Drills And Expert Lead

During the drills, rescue personnel showed advanced ways to cross rivers, including quickly putting up and anchoring ropes across swollen rivers to pull stranded people safely to the shore. Earlier sessions also covered tree rescue operations. A nine-member expert team led by rope rescue trainer Abhilash is leading the training across stations in the division.

Public Warning

Mukkom fire officer Abdul Saleem asked the public not to go into dangerous river stretches or unknown tourist spots without following safety warnings. He noted that the rising number of accidents shows why this specialised training is so important.

Context

Rivers in hilly and monsoon-prone regions can experience sudden increases in water level, making fast-flowing areas extremely hazardous for unsuspecting visitors. Emergency response teams frequently update their skills to handle difficult water rescues where standard methods may not work.