Vijayakumari N S, an Anganwadi teacher from Muppainad Panchayat near Meppadi, has become a symbol of resilience in the aftermath of the devastating landslide in Wayanad. At 54, she is the first woman to participate in the rescue operations in the Meppadi area, a role she undertook 37 years after her father tore up the selection order that could have made her a police officer.

When she received a call at 4 am on Tuesday informing her of the landslide in Mundakkai, Vijayakumari didn’t hesitate. Ignoring the heavy rain, she jumped on her scooter and reached the disaster site by 5 am, where she was confronted by the horrific sight of a village buried in mud.

Vijayakumari joined the official rescue team as an assistant, working tirelessly throughout the day. Her efforts helped retrieve around 17 bodies by 8 pm that night. She credits her police training, which she never got to use professionally, for the calm and efficiency she brought to the task.

“There was not a single woman among the rescue workers. Even though it was a terrible scene, I couldn’t stand aside just because I am a woman,” Vijayakumari said. She added that her years of social service had prepared her mentally for the challenges she faced.

In the days following, Vijayakumari also assisted at the temporary mortuary set up at Meppadi GHSS, where the recovered bodies were brought for identification. Her presence was particularly important when women came to identify their loved ones, many of whom fainted upon seeing the mutilated bodies.

“I didn’t feel insecure because I’m a woman. My only thought was to be of help,” she said, proving that her spirit of service remains unbroken despite the challenges she has faced.