Lagatar24 Desk
New Delhi: Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi and Congress General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra departed from Delhi to Kerala’s Wayanad on Thursday morning to assess the situation following catastrophic landslides. The death toll has now surpassed 250, with many still missing.
Rahul Gandhi, a former MP from Wayanad, and his sister Priyanka Gandhi, who is contesting in the upcoming by-elections, will meet families affected by the recent landslides. The landslides hit Mundakkai and Churalmala in Wayanad early on July 30, causing widespread devastation and raising the death toll to 256.
Wayanad Landslides: Latest Updates
- All-Party Meeting: Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan will chair an all-party meeting in Wayanad on Thursday to discuss ongoing search and rescue operations. State ministers, Wayanad MLAs, and political party leaders will participate in the meeting to coordinate efforts in the landslide-affected areas.
- Governor’s Statement: Kerala Governor Arif Mohammed Khan described the landslides as a “colossal tragedy” and expressed sympathy for those affected.
- Infrastructure Efforts: Construction of a 190-foot-long Bailey bridge is underway to connect the worst-hit areas of Mundakkai and Chooralmala, enhancing rescue operations.
- Political Allegations: Union Home Minister Amit Shah accused the Kerala government of not acting promptly on central government warnings about potential landslides. Kerala CM Vijayan refuted this claim, stating that only an orange alert was issued by the India Meteorological Department (IMD), and the rainfall exceeded predictions.
- Rescue Operations: Rescue teams have so far saved 1,386 people, including 528 men, 559 women, and 299 children, relocating them to seven camps. Currently, 201 people are hospitalized, with 90 still receiving treatment. Rescue efforts continue with the army, navy, and coast guard searching at Attamala, Mundakkai, and Churalmala.
- Search Technologies: Authorities are employing sniffer dogs and an intelligent buried object detection system to locate individuals buried under the soil.
- Financial Assistance: Financial aid is being mobilized, with CM Vijayan urging contributions to the Chief Minister’s Disaster Relief Fund (CMDRF). Prominent donors include Lulu Group Chairman M A Yusuff Ali, industrialist Ravi Pillai, Kalyan Jewellers owner Kalyana Raman, KSFE, and the Adani Group, each contributing Rs 5 crore.
- International Condolences: Russian President Vladimir Putin sent condolences to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Droupadi Murmu for the lives lost and injuries caused by the landslides.
As rescue operations intensify and the community rallies to support the affected, the presence of Rahul and Priyanka Gandhi aims to bring further attention to the plight of the victims and the ongoing relief efforts.
