Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday visited the landslide-ravaged areas of Kerala’s Wayanad district. PM Modi, who reached Churalmala, also visited a relief camp, where many people displaced by the massive landslide live. Here the Prime Minister interacted with the rescued people, including two children, who lost their loved ones in this disaster.
Modi reached the hill district by helicopter from Kannur airport. He visited the affected areas to assess the damage. Later, the Prime Minister visited the camp at Meppadi around 2.30 pm and interacted with some of the survivors there for about half an hour.
Modi placed his hands on the heads and shoulders of the victims as they cried while narrating their ordeal to the Prime Minister. Before landing in Kalpetta, Modi conducted an aerial survey of Churalamala, Mundakkai and Panchirimattam settlements devastated by landslides in an Indian Air Force helicopter. They disembarked at SKMJ Higher Secondary School in Kalpetta and then reached Churalmala by road, where the Army had built a 190-foot long bailey bridge after the disaster.
The Prime Minister walked on the bridge to take stock of the damage. After reaching Churalmala, Modi got down from his vehicle, interacted with rescue workers, state Chief Secretary V Venu and district officials and surveyed the area strewn with stones and debris on foot. He was also accompanied by Kerala Governor Arif Mohammed Khan, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and Union Minister Suresh Gopi.
During this, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said, “Ever since I came to know about this incident, I have been taking information about the landslide. All the agencies of the central government which could have helped in this disaster, immediately This disaster is not normal. I have seen the situation of the victims in the relief camps. Also met.”
The PM said that our prayers are with the people affected by the landslide in Wayanad. We have assured the Center of all possible assistance to aid relief efforts. I want to assure the landslide survivors that they are not alone in this difficult time. CM Pinarayi Vijayan has said that he will send a detailed memorandum regarding the necessary assistance from the Centre. Our central teams have also assessed the situation. The Government of India will stand with the state government to solve all the problems.
He also inspected the most affected areas of Punchirimattam, Mundakkai and Churalmala. Hundreds of people gathered on the roads along the route where the Prime Minister’s convoy took him to Churalmala to get a glimpse of him. Let us tell you that in one of the worst disasters that hit Kerala on the morning of 30th July, 226 people lost their lives and more than 130 people are missing. Hundreds of people have been injured in this disaster.