Kerala landslides | After aerial survey of Wayanad, PM Modi visits Chooralmala

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday (August 10) carried out an aerial survey of the disaster-hit areas of Wayanad district in north Kerala where landslides claimed hundreds of lives and then visited the sites on ground.

Modi conducted an aerial survey of the landslide-ravaged Chooralmala, Mundakkai, and Punchirimattom hamlets aboard an Indian Air Force helicopter, on which he departed to Wayanad from Kannur Airport around 11.15 am. Later, he drove off in a convoy towards Chooralmala, where he interacted with army and other rescue officials at the temporarily constructed Bailey bridge.

By air, he observed the origin of the landslides at Iruvazhinji Puzha (river) and assessed the worst-affected areas. The PM was accompanied by Kerala Governor Arif Mohammed Khan, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and Union Minister of State for Tourism and Petroleum and Natural Gas Suresh Gopi.

After the aerial survey, he landed at the SKMJ Higher Secondary School in Kalpetta, from where he proceeded by road to Chooralmala, where a 190-foot-long Bailey bridge was built by the army after the disaster. The PM walked on the bridge, while surveying the damage.

After reaching Chooralmala, Modi got off his vehicle, interacted with rescue personnel, state chief secretary V Venu and district officials, and surveyed the area — strewn with boulders and debris — on foot.

Hundreds were gathered on the roadsides along the route taken by the PM's convoy to Chooralmala to catch a glimpse of him.

Modi's visit comes at a time when the Kerala government has sought Rs 2,000 crore in assistance for rehabilitation and relief work in the disaster-stricken region.

In Wayanad, teams involved in the rescue operations briefed him about the evacuation efforts.

Modi is also scheduled to visit the relief camp and hospital where he will meet and interact with the victims and survivors of the landslides, officials said.

Modi will then chair a review meeting during which he will be briefed in detail about the incident and the ongoing relief efforts.

Meanwhile, Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi, who is a former MP of Wayanad, thanked PM Modi for deciding to visit the region after the deadly landslides. He also expressed hope that after his visit, the prime minister will declare the Wayanad landslides a “national disaster”.

“Thank you, Modi ji, for visiting Wayanad to personally take stock of the terrible tragedy. This is a good decision. I am confident that once the Prime Minister sees the extent of the devastation first hand, he will declare it a national disaster,” Rahul posted on X on Friday night.

Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan announced Modi's visit to Wayanad earlier this week during a press conference, expressing hope that the central government will declare this as a national disaster and a severe calamity.

At least 226 people died and many remain unaccounted for after landslides hit the region on July 30 in what is seen as one of the biggest natural disasters to have impacted the southern state.

(With agency inputs)