Wayanad, Aug 10 (UNI) Prime Minister Narendra Modi who arrived in Kerala on Saturday conducted an aerial survey of the landslide-affected areas of Wayanad district to assess the damages caused by the landslides.
Kerala Governor Arif Mohammed Khan and Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan accompanied the Prime Minister to the affected areas.
Narendra Modi arrived at Kannur International Airport around 1110 hrs. Kerala Governor Arif Mohammed Khan and Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, Union Minister Suresh Gopi received the Prime Minister at the Kannur International Airport.
Sopon after his arrival, the Prime Minister accompanied by the Governor and the Chief Minister left for Wayanad and conducted an aerial survey of the disaster-hit areas at Chooralmala, Mundakkai and Punchirimattam to assess the situation.
He departed from Wayanad after reviewing the situation at a meeting at the district Collectorate in Kalpetta. Governor, Chief Minister, Union Minister Suresh Gopi,state Ministers, local MLAs, and officials attended the meeting.
Narendra Modi left Kalpetta by road for Chooralmala which was hit badly by the landslide. Modi spent about 50 minutes at Chooralmala.
He visited the Vellarmala GVHSS school campus to see the school which was damaged in the disaster and inquired about the school, students’ study and plans made by the district administration for rehabilitating them.
As many as 32 students of the school died in the disaster that hit on July 30. Later, he walked through Bailey bridge constructed by the Army personnel to connect Chooralmala and Mundakkai for rescue operations.
The Prime Minister interacted with the Governor, Chief Minister, Union Minister Suresh Gopi, District Collector Meghasree D.R and Chief Secretary V Venu, ADGP Ajith Kumar, NDRF and Special Operation Group (SOG) commandos, camping at the disaster site for the search operation.
NDRF Director General Piyush Anand briefed the Prime Minister in detail about the rescue operation.
The Prime Minister appreciated the Army and personnel deployed for the rescue operation, the construction of Bailey Bridge and praised their tireless efforts to rescue the victims.
Prime Minister and Union Minister Suresh Gopi walked through the devastated areas to see the impact of the landslide and inquired about the details. Chief Secretary V Venu, District Collector Meghasree and ADGP replied to the queries of the Prime Minister.
Prime Minister left Chooralmala at 1408 hrs to reach the relief camp operating at St Joseph School at Meppadi and spent around 25 minutes there. He interacted with the 12 victims including doctors and paramedical staff, staying there. The Prime Minister also talked to Muhammed Hani (16) and Lavanya (14), who lost all their family members in the disaster.
After the visit, the Prime minister consoled all of them and assured them of all assistance.
Later, the Prime Minister visited Dr Moopen’s Medical College hospital (WIMS) to see the conditions of the 49 people undergoing treatment there. He interacted with patients including Avanthika (8), Dr Sweekruti Mahapatra of Odisha, Anil, Arun, Jaseena and Rasheeda.
The Prime Minister consoled them and prayed for their speedy recovery and told them that the nation stands along with them. He left the WIMS hospital at 1525 hours.
Chief Secretary V Venu submitted a report about the death toll, loss of crops, buildings, and other resources, and the estimated cost for rehabilitation.
The State government urged the Prime Minister to classify the Wayanad landslide under L3 category and declared it as a “national disaster”.
The state government also demanded Rs 2000 crore assistance from the Central Government for the reconstruction of landslide hit areas in Wayanad.
