Death toll rises to 288 in Kerala’s Wanade landslide The number of injured also exceeded 200. It is feared that the number of casualties may increase as hundreds of people are trapped.
Citing local authorities, Indian media reported that the landslide occurred early Wednesday morning in the mountainous area of Meppadi in Wanad due to continuous heavy rains. Meppadi, Mundakkai Town and Chural Mala were destroyed in the landslide. After the disaster, the National Disaster Response Force took part in rescue operations. With their combined efforts, it was possible to evacuate around one and a half thousand people to a safe place. However, around 250 people are still missing.
Meanwhile, Congress leader and MP Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi visited the landslide-ravaged Wanad on Thursday. They visited the devastated area. Rahul Gandhi also expressed his condolences to the bereaved there.
The Congress leader said, now is not the time to talk about political issues. People here are asking for help. Now the people here who are in trouble, need to be given medical services. I am not interested in politics now. It is necessary to see that the people here have the best security system.
Meanwhile, Union Home Minister Amit Shah recently took the Kerala government single-handedly after such a disaster. Later, the Chief Minister of Kerala said, this is not the time to blame.
On the other hand, Trinamool leader and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee are sending two representatives to the landslide-ravaged Oneday area. Saket Gokhale and Sushmita Dev, two Trinamool MPs in the Rajya Sabha, will go to the troubled areas of Kerala. They will stay there for two days. Chief Minister Mamata herself said this information by posting from her X handle.
Mamata wrote on the X handle post, “I am very worried about the news of one day landslide in Kerala. It is really a terrible disaster. For humanitarian reasons, we are sending a two-member delegation. Saket Gokhale and Sushmita Dev will visit the affected areas. They will stay there for two days. Will meet the families of the victims.
Source: Hindustan Times
