The Army has joined operations to rescue people stranded due to floods and landslides in rain-battered Kodagu district bordering Kerala, officials said on Friday. All major roads leading to Kodagu are blocked and a massive rescue operation has been launched, they said. Multiple agencies, including Army's one column of Dogra Regiment with 60 personnel, are involved in the operation.
The Army's Engineering task force, comprising 73 personnel with boats and other rescue equipment, is on its way to the area, officials said. The Navy's 12 expert divers-cum-surface rescuers with rafts, National Disaster Response Force's one team (30 + 1 officer) with equipment, SDRF's30-member team with boats and equipment, civil defence quick response team-45-member team and Fire Force-200 plus force have been deployed, they said.
Inclement weather led to an Indian Air Force's mission being aborted, officials said, adding that it would be attempted on Saturday morning from Mysuru using M17 helicopter. They said 873 people have been…