Wayanad Landslides: IMD predicts more rain in four northern districts of Kerala; LoP Rahul Gandhi meets victims

Wayanad (Kerala) [India], August 1 (ANI): The India Meteorological Department of Kerala has issued an orange alert in the Wayanad district until Saturday, which has already been affected by landslides claiming over 200 lives.
IMD Kerala director, Neetha K Gopal said that there will be rain, but in between there can be some clear spells, which will also give relief to the rescue operators.
“We have issued an orange alert in 4 northern districts of Kerala including Wayanad. In the south till up to Pathanamthitta, we have issued a yellow alert also. From tomorrow there will considerable reduction in rainfall activity. So the yellow alerts are being confirmed only to the northern districts of Kerala. And then from Sunday there will be a reduction and we will be experiencing only light to moderate rain thereafter for another four days,” she said.
“This continuous rainfall will give rise to the accumulated effect also. There will be rain, but in between there can be some clear spells also. So, that will be a bit of relief for the rescue operators. The wind speed will be very high over the mountainous regions. So, that can cause a bit of difficulty in the rescue operations,” she added.
Piyush Anand, Director General of the National Disaster Response Force, said on Thursday that four teams are currently present in Wayanad and they are trying their best to save as many people as possible.
Anand told ANI, “We responded immediately. The situation is still unfolding. It’s a very bad disaster which has happened. Specifically, how many casualties, it’s not possible to give the number as of now. The main challenge that we faced was that the main bridge washed away. Our team had to cross the bridge which was flowing at a high current and then they had to set up a rescue centre there. There was a lot of mud and slush, our men had to carry their equipment on their backs which was very heavy.”
He further mentioned that as of now there are 12 teams in Kerala and four of them are in Wayanad.
In the wake of the landslides, the Indian Army has also completed the construction of Cl 24 Bailey Bridge in record time. The bridge connecting Chooralmala with Mundakkai over the Iruvanipzha River is open to traffic and handed over to the Civil Administration.
Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha and Congress MP Rahul Gandhi and Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra visited the landslide site at Chooralmala, Wayanad today.
Addressing the media, Rahul Gandhi said that it was a terrible tragedy for Wayanad and there is a lot that needs to be done here.
“It is a terrible tragedy for Wayanad, for Kerala and the nation. We have come here to see the situation. It is painful to see how many people have lost family members and their houses. We will try to help and make sure that the survivors get what is their due. A lot of them want to be relocated. There is a lot that needs to be done here. I would like to thank all those including doctors, nurses, administration, and volunteers,” he said.
Further, the LoP in Lok Sabha said that it is not right to do politics on this issue as people here require help.
“I don’t think this is the time or place to talk about political issues. People here require help. The time right now is to make sure that all assistance comes. I am not interested in politics right now. I am interested in the people of Wayanad,” Rahul said.
“Today, I feel how I felt when my father died. Here people have not just lost a father but an entire family. We all owe these people respect and affection. The whole nation’s attention is towards Wayanad,” he added.
Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi, who accompanied Rahul to Wayanad Hospital said that it’s an immense tragedy.
“We have spent the whole day meeting people who suffered. It’s an immense tragedy. We have met a little boy who was holding on for six hours, trying to save his mother. He managed to save his grandmother but lost his mother. We can only imagine the kind of pain that people are suffering. We are here to give as much support and comfort as we can. I am also very proud to see how everybody is coming together, not from Kerala but from the whole country,” Priyanka said.
Reacting to the incident, DMK MP Tiruchi N Siva asserted on learning from every incident of this kind.
“We should learn from every incident. What happened in Wayanad is a huge tragedy, it should not have happened… The central government has to plan every step in coordination with the state, for good things, they have to come together, coordinate and work for the benefit of the people so the responsibility lies with both central and state governments.The responsibility of the Central government is a little more,” Siva said.
Congress MP Jebi Mather expressed her grief over the tragedy and said “It is a big tragedy. We are still unable to measure the magnitude of the tragedy. Five to six members from so many families have gone missing. This is a moment we all have to work together for and make sure that we bring back the condition to normal.”
In the aftermath of the landslide in Wayanad, Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan’s appeal for contributions to the Chief Minister’s Disaster Relief Fund (CMDRF) has garnered significant support. Through campaign drives, donations are pouring in from different quarters to aid the affected areas.
In Thiruvananthapuram, under the leadership of MLA VK Prashanth, a campaign titled “Vattiyoorkavu Stands with Wayanad” was launched on Thursday to support the disaster-stricken region. The event took place at the residence of TKA Nair, the Former Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister.
The campaign focuses on mobilizing contributions from residents and businesses. Organizers hope to gather a significant amount through these efforts. Despite the negative propaganda against the relief fund, this initiative aims to reinforce the public’s trust and ensure the fund’s effectiveness.
NDRF DIG Mohsen Shahidi said that over 200 deaths have been declared and bodies were being recovered on Thursday following the landslides in Kerala’s Wayanad.
Internationally renowned sand artist Sudarsan Patnaik has created a sand sculpture to pay tribute to those who lost their life in this tragedy.
With the message “Pray for Wayanad ” at Puri beach in Odisha, Patnaik said that in this situation we stand with Wayanad, and he also salutes to all military forces and NDRF with other organizations, those working day and night at the ground zero.
Two massive landslides struck Mundakkai and Churalmala in Wayanad in the early hours of July 30, causing extensive destruction, loss of lives, and injury to hundreds, as per the Kerala Revenue Department. (ANI)