Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday conducted an aerial survey of the landslide-hit areas in Kerala’s Wayanad district, where he was briefed on the ongoing evacuation and rescue efforts. Accompanied by Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and Governor Arif Mohammed Khan, the Prime Minister surveyed the worst-affected regions of Chooralmala, Mundakkai, and Punchirimattom from an Indian Air Force helicopter.
Following the aerial assessment, PM Modi landed at the SKMJ Higher Secondary School in Kalpetta and proceeded by road to the landslide-hit areas. During his visit, he reviewed the rescue operations on the ground and interacted with the victims and survivors at a local relief camp and hospital. The Prime Minister also chaired a review meeting, where he was briefed in detail about the disaster, the ongoing relief efforts, and the challenges faced by the rescue teams.
The landslides, triggered by heavy rainfall on July 30, devastated several villages in Wayanad, including Mundakkai, Chooralmala, and Vellarimala. In response, the central government quickly mobilized more than 1,200 rescuers from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), the Army, Air Force, Navy, Fire Services, Civil Defence, and other agencies to assist in rescue and relief operations.
In addition to the deployment of rescue personnel, the Indian Army constructed a 190-foot Bailey bridge in Wayanad within 71 hours, enabling the movement of heavy machinery and ambulances. This rapid construction was crucial for rescuing around 200 people who were stranded due to the collapse of the original bridge. More than 100 ambulances, along with doctors and medical staff, were also deployed to provide immediate medical support to the injured.
The Central Government has constituted an Inter-Ministerial Central Team (IMCT) to assess the damage and visit the affected areas from August 8 to August 10. During a press conference in Thiruvananthapuram, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan emphasized the state’s request for the central government to declare the landslides a national disaster and a severe calamity. The Kerala government has assured immediate assistance to those affected by the landslides, including support for relocation and rehabilitation efforts.
