• durgesh dubey
• 09 Aug, 2024

Wayanad

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to visit the landslide-affected areas of Wayanad, Kerala, on August 10, as announced by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan. During a press conference, Vijayan emphasized that the state has urged the central government to declare the landslides as a national disaster and a severe calamity. The catastrophic landslides, which occurred on July 30 in Chooralmala and Mundakkai of Wayanad, resulted in widespread devastation and claimed hundreds of lives.

A nine-member central committee has been appointed to assess the situation, with the chairman having already visited the affected sites. The Chief Minister expressed hope that the Prime Minister’s visit would lead to central assistance for rehabilitation efforts, as well as a better understanding of the situation.

Vijayan provided an update on the ongoing recovery efforts, stating that post-mortem procedures have been completed on 420 bodies, with 225 deaths officially confirmed. Additionally, 195 body parts have been recovered and are undergoing DNA testing. The search and recovery operations continue, with 178 bodies returned to their families and 233 burials conducted so far.

Vijayan also mentioned the overwhelming influx of used clothing at the Wayanad collection centre, noting that seven tons of donated clothes were not usable and had to be processed, causing additional logistical challenges.

Modi’s visit is expected to include a stop at a relief camp, a hospital, and the Bailey bridge built by the Army for relief operations. He will also conduct an aerial survey of the disaster zone. The visit raises hopes that the central government will declare the disaster a 'calamity of severe nature' and provide support from the National Disaster Response Fund for rehabilitation efforts.