Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan, Governor visit Idukki district as landslide toll rises to 55
Both of them later met survivors of the deceased and the Chief Minister assured them that the government will do everything possible to alleviate their suffering.
Kerala Governor Arif Mohammad Khan and Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Thursday visited the landslide spot in Rajamalai in Idukki district even as the death toll in Friday’s tragedy climbed to 55. The district administration said 15 people are still missing and rescue teams are still looking for them.
Both of them later met survivors of the deceased and the Chief Minister assured them that the government will do everything possible to alleviate their suffering. He said houses will be built for them and the government will bear education expenses of tea plantation workers living under trying conditions in settlements.
“We will build houses for them. The Kannan Devan Hill Plantation Limited, where they are working, has also promised to help,” said the CM adding the government will improve infrastructure in the area. But the Congress said his visit was a big letdown. “We thought he will announce some package for them. He did not even raise the relief amount,” said Idukki MP Dean Kuriakose.
There was a controversy over the delay in the CM’ visit and opposition parties also questioned disparities in relief amount in two different tragedies that occurred on the same day-- while the state government had announced Rs 10 lakh relief to victims of the air crash in Kozhikode, the landslide victims were given Rs 5 lakh each. But the CM later clarified that it was the initial relief and a package would be announced later.
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