Picture : ANI / X
Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited the landslide-devastated areas of Wayanad district in Kerala and trekked through the disaster-stricken Chooralmala to get a firsthand view of the destruction caused by the July 30 landslides.
Modi also visited one of the relief camps, which is home to many of those displaced in the massive landslides, and interacted with some of the survivors, including two children who lost their loved ones in the disaster that has claimed over 200 lives.
Modi arrived in the hill district by helicopter from Kannur airport. He walked through the affected regions to assess the damage.
Later, the Prime Minister visited the camp at Meppadi around 2.30 pm and spent nearly half an hour there, interacting with some of the survivors.
He spoke to them, heard their concerns and needs, and tried to comfort them, according to visuals shown on TV channels.
Modi placed his hands on the heads and shoulders of the victims as they broke into tears while recounting their ordeal to the PM.
Modi later tweeted on X
The landslides in Wayanad have saddened us all. Since the tragedy unfolded, I’ve been closely monitoring the situation. The Central government has mobilised all resources to assist those affected. Today, I went there and reviewed the situation. I also undertook an aerial survey. pic.twitter.com/ZT1UXJ3Bdn
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) August 10, 2024
Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a review meeting with officials regarding the landslide-affected area in Wayanad. Governor Arif Mohammed Khan, CM Pinarayi Vijayan and Union Minister Suresh Gopi are also present.
Prior to landing in Kalpetta, Modi conducted an aerial survey of the landslide-ravaged areas of Chooralmala, Mundakkai, and Punchirimattam hamlets aboard an Indian Air Force helicopter.
On PM Modi’s visit to landslide-hit Wayanad, Congress MP Shashi Tharoor quoted by ANI said , “It would have been better if he had gone earlier and seen the conditions on the ground as some of us have done…I hope that with PM Modi’s visit, the government will now make it a point to actually go ahead and declare this a national disaster so that the appropriate level of assistance can follow”
Before PM Modi decided to visit landslide hit Wayanad, Leader of the Opposition, Lok Sabha , Rahul Gandhi on X tweeted
Thank you, Modi ji, for visiting Wayanad to personally take stock of the terrible tragedy. This is a good decision.
I am confident that once the Prime Minister sees the extent of the devastation firsthand, he will declare it a national disaster.
— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) August 9, 2024
