WAYANAD: The Rescue operations in Kerala’s Wayanad were resumed on Thursday as the construction of a Bailey bridge to connect the landslide-hit areas, where several people are believed to be stranded, constituted one of the largest rescue efforts in the hill district, devastated by a deadly calamity. The massive landslides which struck Wayanad on Tuesday claimed the lives of at least 256 people and left 206 missing.
Congress MP Rahul Gandhi, along with party leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, visited the landslide site at Chooralmala in Kerala’s Wayanad. The Congress leaders took stock of the situation in the area and met the affected people. Speaking to the media after meeting people in Wayanad, Rahul Gandhi said, “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. “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
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.”.
Over 200 people are also injured in the landslides. The Army has rescued around 1,000 people and 220 people are still missing, as rescue operations entered the third day on Thursday.A Command and Control Centre has been set up in Kozhikode by the Army for coordinating Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) efforts, PTI reported.
Kerala Health Minister Veena George said, “At least 1,500 Army personnel have been deployed for the rescue operation. We have deployed forensic surgeons.” The Indian Meteorological Department has predicted more rain for Wayanad and several other districts over the next couple of days. A red alert for heavy rain has been issued for Idukki, Thrissur, Palakkad, Malappuram, Kozhikode, Kannur and Kasargod districts.Several countries, including the US, Russia, China and Iran, expressed condolences over the deaths due to landslides.
Meanwhile, Kerala chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Thursday held a high-level meeting to discuss the rescue situation in Wayanad. “Rescue operations will continue in the river to search for missing persons. Rescued people are temporarily shifted to camps. Rehabilitation works will be done at the earliest, as we have done in earlier situations too. I request the media to avoid meeting people and shooting inside the camps. You may talk to them outside the camps, it is important to protect the privacy of the individuals…” he said.
The Army has rescued around 1,000 people and 220 people are still missing, as rescue operations entered the third day on Thursday.
A Command and Control Centre has been set up in Kozhikode by the Army for coordinating Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) efforts, PTI reported. Kerala Health Minister Veena George said, “At least 1,500 Army personnel have been deployed for the rescue operation. We have deployed forensic surgeons.”
The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) has predicted more rain for Wayanad and several other districts over the next couple of days. A red alert for heavy rain has been issued for Idukki, Thrissur, Palakkad, Malappuram, Kozhikode, Kannur and Kasargod districts. Several countries, including the US, Russia, China and Iran, expressed condolences over the deaths due to landslides.
(Bureau Report with Media Inputs).

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