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Wayanad landslides: Rahul Gandhi urges govt to extend all possible support
Speaking in the Lok Sabha, the senior Congress leader said that there is an urgent need to come up with an action plan to address the frequency of national calamities in the ecologically fragile regions
Former Wayanad MP and leader of opposition (LoP) Rahul Gandhi has requested the central government to extend all possible support and immediately release compensation for those affected by landslides in Kerala’s Wayanad district.
Speaking in the Lok Sabha on Tuesday, the senior Congress leader said that there is an urgent need to come up with an action plan to address the frequency of national calamities in the ecologically fragile regions.
“Early this morning, Wayanad was hit with several devastating landslides with more than 45 people been killed. Mundakai village has been cut off and the devastating loss of lives and extensive damage is yet to be assessed due to the scale of the tragedy,” Gandhi said.
He said that he has spoken to the defence minister Rajnath Singh and Kerala chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan.
“I request the union government to extend all possible support for rescue and medical care and immediate release of compensation to deceased people and if the compensation can be increased as well. Restore vital communication and transportation lines, set up relief at the earliest, and prepare a road map for the rehabilitation of the affected families,” the former Wayanad MP said.
Also Read:Wayanad Landslides LIVE updates: Toll rises to 45 in Kerala; Army deployed for rescue operation
Expressing concerns over the rise in cases of landslides in the county, Gandhi said, “Even as I speak the threat of landslides looms over many areas in Wayanad and western ghats. Our country has witnessed an alarming rise in landslides in the last few years. There is an urgent need for mapping of landslide prone areas and to take up mitigation measures and an action plan to address the growth in frequency of national calamities in the ecologically fragile regions,” he said.
Heavy rain triggered landslides in Kerala’s Wayanad on Tuesday and left at least 45 people dead and scores injured even as the collapse of the main bridge linking the affected area to the nearest Chooralmala town was destroyed, hampering rescue operations amid the India Meteorological Department (IMD) forecast of extremely heavy rain in the southern state through the day.
The authorities roped in the Army to build a temporary bridge to the affected area of mostly tea and cardamom estates in Mundakkai. Many people were feared to have been washed away in the Chaliyar river. TV visuals showed rescuers making their way to the scene of the landslides with muddy water gushing through amid destroyed houses, rocks, and uprooted trees.
Opposition MPs in Rajya Sabha urge government to help
MPs from opposition parties in the Rajya Sabha urged the central government to help those affected due to landslides in Kerala’s Wayanad.
CPI (M) leader from Kerala, John Bittas demanded action by the government by utilising disaster funds.
CPI MP, Sandosh Kumar P demanded that the central government declare the incident as a national emergency and include Kerala in the ecologically fragile zone.
Leader of the house, JP Nadda assured that the government has and will take all the necessary action to help the people of Kerala.
“This is not just a tragedy for the state of Kerala but for the entire country. The government of India under PM Narendra Modi is proactive, and the PM has spoken to the chief minister to assure any kind of support required from the Centre in the dealing of this unfortunate calamity,” said Nadda.
He also laid emphasis on the urgency to rescue the injured and activate the emergency response system, to handle the situation.
Minister of parliamentary affairs, Kiren Rijiu said that the minister of state (MoS) George Kurien has been sent to Kerala while the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), Indian Army and other agencies are working in coordination on the ground.
“In the matter of funds, they are placed with the state government in advance at the beginning of the year. The funds are pulled together by the state and central government under SDRF,” added Rijiju when the matter was raised by opposition MPs.
