Thiruvananthapuram, Aug 26: The Kerala government will hold a farewell today for the defence forces to honour their relief and rescue operation in the state over the past fortnight.

Spearheaded by the Indian Navy, the 14-day long Operation Madad was called off on Wednesday. At least 16,005 people were rescued by the Navy personnel during the period.

The Indian Army acted on war-footing to build 13 makeshift bridges connecting 38 flood-ravaged villages of Kerala to safer areas. Their efforts led to the rescue of 3,627 people till Wednesday.

For the rescue operation, the Army had deployed 10 Relief Columns, 10 Engineer Task Force and 53 BAUTs in the flood-ravaged state.

The Navy, meanwhile, was using 10 motorised boats, one Advanced Light Helicopter and one Seaking Helicopter in the rescue operations.

The forces drew applause from across the state for heroic rescues, including the air-lifting of a pregnant woman from an inundated village in Aluva region of Ernakulam district. The 25-year-old successfully gave birth to a baby boy hours after the rescue.

Watch video of a 2-year-old being winched to safety in Alappuzha:

Although the rescue operation has been called off, a section of the defence personnel will remain in the state for the relief operation, said Army’s Southern Command chief Lt Gen DR Soni.

The Indian Air Force is currently treating over  1,600 people in 26 camps. A 10-bed hospital has been set-up in Chetankery near Pathanamthitta’s Thiruvala. The Rapid Action Medical Team has been deployed for treatment of the victims.

Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said the state would acknowledge the efforts taken by the defence forces and other government agencies which acted on war-footing to minimise the number of casualties by conducting a farewell ceremony.

"The government has decided to organise a farewell on August 26 to express its love and gratitude towards the various defence forces that helped in relief and rescue operations in the state," Vijayan had said on Wednesday.

Though the situation has now been brought under control, the floods have already claimed the lives of over 370 people and left nearly 10 lakh displaced. The total losses to be incurred by the state exchequer is being pegged at Rs 21,000 crores.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Aug 25, 2018 11:25 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).