Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said the tragic landslides in Wayanad should be declared a national disaster. Addressing at the passing-out parade at Kerala Police Academy in Thrissur, the CM appreciated the rescue efforts being conducted by police and other forces in Wayanad.
“What happened in Wayanad was a significant disaster at the national level. The efforts of the police, who participated in the rescue mission there are commendable,” OnManorama quoted the CM as saying. Vijayan said police personnel risked their own lives to save others.
Meanwhile, Suresh Gopi, Minister of State for Tourism, and Petroleum and Gas visited the landslide-hit places in Wayanad on Sunday and reviewed rescue efforts. The minister visited Mundakkai and Chooralmala, the worst affected places due to the landslide and said the impact of the landslide has to be studied.
Gopi said “rehabilitation of minds” has to be prioritised and counselling must be arranged for those affected to overcome the trauma of the disaster. The union minister discussed with Army personnel about rescue efforts being carried out in the region.
Gopi told reporters that he would brief the Centre on the ground picture and added union government will announce assistance once the state government submits a report assessing the impact of the disaster. On declaring it as a national disaster, the union minister said the Centre will examine the legality behind that demand.
Search operations in Wayanad entered the sixth day on Sunday and over 1,500 personnel are involved in the rescue operations. Death toll crossed 300 and over 200 are still missing.
Tweeting about his visit, Gopi said, "My heart is heavy amidst the ruins in Wayanad. Landslides have claimed many lives,including innocent children,and left others missing. My deepest condolences to the grieving families. Wayanad's resilience is inspiring.Thank you to all rescuers and volunteers. We stand with you."
