Prime Minister Narendra Modi has reached Kerala to assess rescue and relief operations being carried out in landslide-hit Wayanad. Modi landed at Kannur International Airport and boarded a chopper to visit Wayanad, along with Union Minister Suresh Gopi.
On landing, Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and Governor Arif Mohammed Khan received Modi at the airport. Three helicopters have been arranged for the leaders to travel to Wayanad. The prime minister will conduct an aerial survey of landslide-affected areas and visit survivors residing in relief camps.
The PM will attend a review meeting at the district collectorate where authorities will brief him about the rescue operations being carried out in the area. The state government has requested Rs 2,000 crore from the Centre to rehabilitate those affected by the landslide.
Earlier, Opposition leader and former Wayanad MP Rahul Gandhi welcomed Modi’s visit to Wayanad and expressed confidence that the visit would convince the PM to declare it as a national disaster. “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,” Gandhi tweeted.
According to the government, over 200 were killed in the devastating landslide and over 100 persons are missing. Search operations were suspended after Friday noon owing to security measures for the PM's visit.
