“Need to maintain balance between man, nature”: Ananda Bose on Wayanad landslides

Kolkata (West Bengal) [India], July 30 (ANI): After landslides hit the Meppadi area in Wayanad in the early hours of Tuesday, killing at least 80 people, West Bengal Governor CV Ananda Bose said that the unfortunate incident makes us “introspect” the need to “maintain balance” between man and nature.

“We are deeply saddened and shocked by this tragedy. We will all stand together in this hour of crisis and brave this storm. We pray to God that the departed rest in peace.

We wish an early and speedy recovery to the injured. It is said accidents are not accidental, there is a human factor in that. This is an occasion which makes us deeply introspect the need to maintain the balance between man and nature,” Bose said speaking to ANI on Tuesday.

The West Bengal Governor said that he is in touch with all those concerned and he has requested Defence Minister Rajnath Singh to help people without delay.

“In this critical time, the entire India will stand together and do whatever is required to save the people in distress…I am in touch with all those concerned, now the focus would be the rescue operations. I will do my best to be in touch with everybody concerned, Whatever is required will certainly be done without delay,” Bose said.

“I am planning to (visit Wayanad)…,” he added.

Union Minister of State George Kurian is heading to Wayanad to lead relief and rescue operations. The minister, on the directions of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, will coordinate with National Disaster Relief Force personnel, paramilitary forces, Kerala Government officials and other agencies in the operation.

Meanwhile, Kerala Forest Minister Saseendran reached the affected area to assess the damage and coordinate immediate response measures, state minister Ramachandran Kadannappalli will be soon joining the efforts on the ground.

In addition, a delegation of state ministers of Revenue, Public Works, and Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes Departments are travelling by air from Thiruvananthapuram and are expected to reach the site soon, as per the Kerala chief minister’s office. Kerala Minister MB Rajesh said that the state government is coordinating with various agencies to carry out rescue efforts on a “war footing.”

“The chief minister is closely monitoring the operation. He has sent a team of ministers to Wayanad. An IAS officer will be camping in Wayand to coordinate the rescue ops. 250 people have been rescued and shifted to temporary shelter camps. We are airlifting stranded persons. All efforts are being taken by the government for rescue ops” the Kerala minister said.