Wayanad landslides LIVE | Clearly a national disaster, let's see what govt does: Rahul
CM Pinarayi Vijayan holds all-party meet; more than 1,500 rescued so far from landslide-hit areas of Mundakkai, Chooralmala, Attamala, and Noolpuzha
Congress leader and former Wayanad MP Rahul Gandhi and his sister Priyanka Gandhi Vadra are in Wayanad to visit the landslide-affected areas and meet people who have been injured and lost their homes in the calamity.
Addressing the media after an all-party meeting on the issue on Thursday (August 1), Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said the rescue mission in landslides-hit Mundakkai region might take some more days and that a cabinet sub-committee comprising four ministers has been appointed to coordinate the rescue efforts.
The four ministers –Revenue Minister K Rajan, Forest Minister AK Saseendran, PWD and Tourism Minister PA Mohamed Riyas, and SC/ST Department Minister O R Kelu – will camp in the district.
The chief minister said the rescue attempt is not something that will be over in a few days.
"This rescue attempt is not something which can be resolved in a short period of time. As of now, 12 ministers are camping in Wayanad. Now the all-party meeting has decided that four ministers will camp here to coordinate the rescue operations," Vijayan said.
Vijayan said while it was initially difficult to begin the search operations due to the massive accumulation of soil, now that the Army is completing the construction of the Bailey Bridge, the mission will be easier.
The construction of a Bailey bridge to connect the landslide-hit areas, where several people are believed to be stranded, alongside the deployment of sniffer dogs and over 1,000 rescuers from Central and state emergency response teams conducting massive search operations, constitutes one of the largest rescue efforts in Wayanad.
Massive landslides triggered by torrential rains hit Mundakkai, Chooralmala, Attamala, and Noolpuzha hamlets in the early hours of Tuesday, killing several people, including women and children.
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- 1 Aug 2024 4:38 PM IST
Rahul, Priyanka meet grieving families at Meppadi
Congress leader and former Wayanad MP Rahul Gandhi and his sister Priyanka Gandhi Vadra visited the landslide-affected area of Chooralmala here and a hospital and community health centre in Meppadi on Thursday afternoon.
After visiting the spot, Rahul in a Facebook post said witnessing the scenes of disaster and tragedy deeply pained his heart.
"In these difficult times, Priyanka and I stand with the people of Wayanad. We are closely monitoring the relief, rescue, and rehabilitation efforts, ensuring that all necessary assistance is provided. The UDF is committed to extending all possible support. The repeated incidents of landslides and natural calamities are extremely concerning. A comprehensive action plan is urgently needed," he said in his post.
After reaching Chooralmala, Rahul and Priyanka – donning translucent blue raincoats – crossed the temporary wooden walkway built there, witnessed the construction of the Bailey bridge and walked around the area braving the rain and muddy terrain.
"LoP Shri @RahulGandhi & AICC General Secretary Smt. @priyankagandhi ji visited the Chooralmala landslide site in Wayanad where devastating landslides have claimed many lives and left families devastated." Congress said on social media platform X and shared photographs of the visit.
Thereafter, they headed to Dr Moopen's Medical College and the Community Health Centre in Meppadi where the bodies of the victims were kept in refrigerator coffins. The Gandhi siblings interacted with the grieving families there.
- 1 Aug 2024 4:20 PM IST
#WATCH | Search and rescue operations continue in landslide-affected areas in Kerala's Wayanad. Drone visuals from the Chooralmala area.The death toll stands at 167. pic.twitter.com/0CfrgDVD3g
— ANI (@ANI) August 1, 2024 - 1 Aug 2024 3:29 PM IST
Mission will be easier with construction of Bailey Bridge: Vijayan
Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said many people were still missing, and it was initially difficult to begin the search operations due to the massive accumulation of soil.
"Initially, it was not possible to take big machines for rescue operations. But now that the Army is completing the construction of the Bailey Bridge, the mission will be easier," Vijayan added.
Asked about the rehabilitation of survivors, the chief minister said the victims would be taken care of.
"We have effectively rehabilitated such survivors earlier, too. We will continue the same," Vijayan said.
The chief minister asked the media to refrain from shooting and reporting from inside the relief camps.
He said the camps are presently housing numerous families, and privacy should be respected.
The chief minister said those, including reporters, who want to meet the families, can do so outside the camps, respecting the privacy of others.
After the press meet, Vijayan received cheques donated by various organisations to the Chief Minister's Disaster Relief Fund (CMDRF).
He is scheduled to visit the disaster-hit areas soon.
- 1 Aug 2024 3:29 PM IST
Rescue might take some more days; 4 ministers will camp in Wayanad: Kerala CM
Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Thursday said the rescue mission in landslides-hit Mundakkai region in Wayanad might take some more days and appointed a cabinet sub-committee comprising four ministers to coordinate the rescue efforts.
The four ministers will be camping in Wayanad to coordinate the rescue efforts.
Vijayan, who met the media after an all-party meeting, praised the efforts of the rescue workers, especially the Indian Army, and said they did a commendable job.
The chief minister told the media that the Army representatives had apprised that all those who could be saved from the debris had been rescued.
"There are so many missing people. We have recovered so many bodies from many parts of the region. The rescue workers have recovered many bodies from the Chaliyar River. Many body parts were also recovered," the chief minister added.
He said the rescue attempt is not something that will be over in a few days.
"This rescue attempt is not something which can be resolved in a short period of time. As of now, 12 ministers are camping in Wayanad. Now the all-party meeting has decided that four ministers will camp here to coordinate the rescue operations," Vijayan said.
Vijayan said Revenue Minister, K Rajan, Forest Minister AK Saseendran, PWD and Tourism Minister PA Mohamed Riyas, and SC/ST Department Minister O R Kelu will camp in the district.
- 1 Aug 2024 3:16 PM IST
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka visit landslide-hit spot in Wayanad
Congress leader and former Wayanad MP Rahul Gandhi and his sister Priyanka Gandhi Vadra visited the landslide-affected area of Chooralmala on Thursday (August 1) afternoon.
After visiting the spot amid rain, the leaders left for the Community Health Centre in Meppadi.
From there, the two will then proceed to Dr Moopen's Medical College and two relief camps at Meppadi, party leaders said.
AICC general secretary and Alappuzha MP K C Venugopal is also accompanying them.
Rahul, who won from the Wayanad Lok Sabha constituency in the 2019 general elections, had again won from the constituency this year.
However, as he also won from the Raebareli LS seat in Uttar Pradesh, he gave up the Wayanad constituency from where Priyanka is expected to contest when a by-election is held there.
Rahul and Priyanka landed at Kannur airport at 9.30 am and then travelled to Wayanad by road.
