Idukki: Search and rescue efforts are still on, battling the unfavourable weather conditions at Pettimudi in Rajamala, Idukki, Kerala; a region which has been devastated in the recent landslide killing at least 48 persons. Many more missing persons are yet to be found.
The police dogs Lilly and Donna, trained at the Police Training Academy at Thrissur have joined the search and rescue operations, along with the rescue teams in Pettimudi. The dogs, which can sense the pulse of life, and also the dead, anywhere under the mud, rocks and debris have been sent on this special mission even before they have completed their training.
Lilly and Donna are now engaged in looking for those who have gone missing on the night of landslide at Rajamala. The unexpected landslide in this area had washed away two of the line houses (Layam in Malayalam- long, thatched blocks of individual quarters for the estate workers) and the area remains devasted. The search and rescue operations difficult due to the rains which continue to pound the area and the accessibility issues.
The dogs, which can sense the pulse of life even under the mud or debris, are looking for those who could not be found yet since the night of landslide here.
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10-month old Lilly of Belgium Malinois breed, nicknamed Maya, has been deputed for the special duty even before she could complete her training with the Police Academy at Thrissur. Lilly and her friend Donna have been sent on the special mission to Pettimudi by the State Police Chief Loknath Behara.
Lilly and Donna belong to the new batch of 35 fresh dog trainees, of the two batches currently undergoing training and preparations to join the police team. Two dogs, including Lilly, have got special training to locate and find the dead bodies under the soil. Lilly has already helped to trace the bodies of three people who had gone missing in the landslide at Pettimudi.