The Union government has classified the Wayanad landslides as a “disaster of severe nature.” According to a memorandum submitted by the Kerala government on August 17, 359 people either died or went missing in the disaster. The memorandum also reported that 95 individuals suffered injuries exceeding 40% severity, and 378 injured persons were hospitalized due to the landslide in Wayanad.
The Union government constituted the Inter-Ministerial Central Team (IMCT) on August 2 to analyze the landslides. The IMCT visited the disaster sites between August 8 and 10. Based on the IMCT's recommendations, the government designated the Wayanad landslides—the most disastrous in Kerala's history—as a disaster of severe nature. Earlier, the Kerala state government had requested that it be declared a national disaster. However, in a letter, Minister of State for Home Affairs Nityananda Rai informed Kerala’s special envoy in Delhi, K.V. Thomas, that current provisions do not allow the designation of the landslide tragedy as a national disaster.
On the issue of fund allocations for disaster relief, the Union government stated that Kerala has ₹783 crore available in the State Disaster Response Fund. An additional ₹153 crore was allocated to the state on November 16 to cover the Indian Air Force's expenses for airdropping essential supplies, conducting rescue operations, and clearing debris during the Wayanad landslide.
Kerala has requested a ₹2,219 crore special package for Wayanad's rehabilitation, which the IMCT is currently reviewing. The state government submitted the Post-Disaster Needs Assessment (PDNA) following the Wayanad landslide and estimated a requirement of ₹2,219 crore for recovery and reconstruction on November 13.
Today, Wayanad MP Priyanka Gandhi, along with other UDF and LDF MPs, met Home Minister Amit Shah to discuss the rehabilitation package for Wayanad. Shah is expected to announce details of the package from the Union government tomorrow.
Meanwhile, the ruling LDF is organizing a march and sit-in protest tomorrow outside the Raj Bhavan and central government offices across Kerala to protest the “Centre’s refusal of aid” for Wayanad landslide victims. Left-aligned cyber groups are running a campaign to trend hashtags such as #ModiNeglectWayanad, #WayanadBetrayed, and #WayanadIndiayilalle (Is Wayanad not in India?).
