Centre assures Kerala of every possible aid for rehabilitation in Wayanad

New Delhi [India], August 10 (ANI): As he visited and inspected landslide-hit sites on Saturday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that the tragedy that claimed over 300 lives in Kerala’s Wayanad was not ordinary.

The Prime Minister conducted aerial as well as on-the-ground surveys taking stock of the situation while the rescue operations were still underway. He said that the central government is standing alongside the state government for all assistance and relief work.

The Centre assures every possible support to aid in relief efforts, PM Modi said during a review meeting held at the District Collectorate in Wayanad.

The Prime Minister also met those who were injured and interacted with those housed at relief camps. During the review meeting, PM Modi reassured that the Central Government and the country are with the disaster-affected victims in this hour of grief.

He promised to ensure that no work would be delayed due to a shortage of funds. The Prime Minister said that the central government will make all efforts to fulfil all state government requests. He said that as soon as he was informed of the situation in Wayanad when the landslides hit, a Minister of State was sent to the state to take stock of the situation. NDRF, Army and Air Force teams were also deployed for rescue and relief operations.

“I had a conversation with CM Pinarayi Vijayan the morning when the incident took place and assured him that we would provide assistance and try to reach the spot as soon as possible. NDRF, SDRF, Army, police, doctors, everyone tried to help the victims at the earliest. All the agencies of the central government were mobilised immediately,” PM Modi said.

Prime Minister said that he has been keeping a close watch on the rescue efforts in Wayanad and has been in constant touch with the authorities. He said disaster management funds have already been released and the remaining part will also be released immediately.

The Prime Minister said that his heart felt heavy as he visited the landslide-hit sites and also when he met the survivors at the relief camp. He highlighted the importance of collective efforts in rehabilitation.

“This disaster is not an ordinary one. The dreams of thousands of families have been shattered. I have seen the situation on the spot. I met the victims at relief camps who faced this disaster. I also met the injured patients in the hospital,” PM Modi said.

PM Modi stressed the need to formulate new long-term schemes to support those affected, especially the children who have lost their families. He expressed confidence that the state government will play a crucial role in this with all the support needed from the Centre.

“I want to assure the families of the deceased that they are not alone. We are all standing with them. The Central Government stands with the Kerala Government and we will ensure no work is hampered due to the lack of money,” he added.

The Prime Minister assured that the Central Government will leave no stone unturned to restore livelihood in the region, be it homes, schools, road infrastructure as well as the future of children.

The meeting was attended by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, Governor Arif Muhammed Khan, Union Minister Suresh Gopi, State Ministers A Rajan, AK Saseendran, PA Mohammed Riyas, and Kerala ADGP (law and order) MR Ajith Kumar.

Addressing a joint press conference after the review meeting, Kerala Minister PA Mohammed Riyas said that right from the start, the state government has been coordinating with the central government in the rescue efforts. He added that the meeting ended positively and the Prime Minister assured the state government of all support.

Revenue Minister K Rajan said the region has incurred a loss of Rs 1,200 crore and the state has sought Rs 2,000 crore for rehabilitation alone.

The state has requested the central government to declare this as a national disaster and a severe calamity. An Inter-Ministerial Central Team (IMCT) has been constituted by the Central Government to visit the affected areas of the State and review the situation. The team is visiting the affected areas from August 8 to August 10.

According to a CMO release, Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has requested financial support for the rehabilitation of those who lost everything in the Wayanad landslide, as well as assistance to address the challenges posed by climate change. The Chief Minister gave a memorandum to the Prime Minister on Saturday during his visit to the disaster-affected region in Wayanad. CM Vijayan briefed PM Modi regarding the scale of the disaster and handed over a detailed note to the Prime Minister.

The Chief Minister expressed gratitude for the Prime Minister’s visit to Wayanad and requested that he instruct the relevant Central Government departments to cooperate with the state government in assessing the extent of the disaster. Adequate financial support is essential for the state’s rapid reconstruction efforts and long-term climate change mitigation initiatives.

Over 300 people lost their lives after massive landslides hit Chooralmala and Mundakkai of Wayanad on July 30 following incessant rainfall.