Rahul Gandhi Urges Swift Government Response and Area-Mapping as Tragedy Unfolds In Wayanad
News Mania Desk/Agnibeena Ghosh/30th July 2024
In a tragic event that struck the Wayanad district of Kerala early Tuesday morning, devastating landslides resulted in the loss of over 70 lives. Opposition leader Rahul Gandhi, speaking in the Lok Sabha, highlighted the severity of the situation and emphasized the need for immediate government intervention.
Gandhi, who represents Wayanad in Parliament, expressed his deep concern over the disaster. “Early this morning, Wayanad was hit by several devastating landslides. More than 70 people have been killed. Mundakkai 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,” he said. Gandhi also mentioned his communication with Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, seeking their assistance.
The Congress leader called for comprehensive support from the Union Government for rescue and medical efforts. He urged for the immediate release and possible increase of compensation for the families of the deceased, the restoration of vital transport and communication lines, the establishment of relief measures, and a roadmap for the rehabilitation of affected families. “Even as I speak, the threat of landslides looms over many areas in Wayanad and the Western Ghats,” Gandhi added.
Highlighting a broader concern, Gandhi noted the alarming rise in landslides across India in recent years. He stressed the need for urgent mapping of landslide-prone areas and the implementation of mitigation measures to address the growing frequency of such natural calamities in ecologically fragile regions.
The heavy rains that caused the landslides have raised fears that hundreds more may be trapped under the debris. In response, Union Minister JP Nadda addressed the Rajya Sabha, describing the tragedy as one of national concern. “Under the leadership of Prime Minister Modi, the Government of India is working proactively and doing everything necessary for the relief work in Kerala. The PM spoke with the Kerala CM and gave him assurance,” Nadda said.
A team of Army personnel has been dispatched from Kannur to Wayanad to conduct search and rescue operations. Nadda assured that central agencies are coordinating with the state government to provide relief. “Right now, the primary thing is to recover the bodies and save those who can be saved. We should activate the Emergency Response System. All of that is being done,” he stated.
Congress MP Shashi Tharoor echoed the gravity of the situation, expressing his hope that more lives would not be endangered and stressing the urgency of on-ground action. “It is a very serious situation. I hope and pray that more lives will not be in peril. We need to get to action on the ground as soon as possible,” Tharoor remarked.
To bolster the relief efforts, the Department of Information and Public Relations has established district and state-level media control rooms. These control rooms are designed to aid in the coordination and dissemination of information regarding the relief operations. The district control room can be contacted at 0483-2734387, while the state-level control room, located at the Secretariat, can be reached at 0471-2327628 or 2518637.
As rescue operations continue, the focus remains on saving lives and providing immediate relief to the affected families. The government’s coordinated efforts, coupled with local and national support, aim to mitigate the impact of this devastating natural disaster and ensure the safety and rehabilitation of the Wayanad community.
