Prime Minister Narendra Modi will likely visit landslide-hit Wayanad this week to review the on-ground situation in the district that saw over 400 people die.

PM Modi will do an aerial survey of the region and visit the Chooralmala and Mundakkai villages to meet the landslide-affected people. Following this, he will also go to a relief camp to meet the aggrieved people.

What’s the situation in Wayanad?

Nine days after the massive landslides hit the Kerala district killing hundreds, the Army, which led the search and rescue operations and also built the Bailey bridge to connect areas isolated in the disaster, on Thursday decided to partially withdraw from here.

The Army’s decision to partially withdraw from the operations was announced by state PWD Minister P A Mohamed Riyas who said the force fulfilled its duty and thanked them for their service.

Meanwhile, as many as 138 people are still missing in Wayanad, according to the initial figures released by the local administration on Wednesday.

The draft list of 138 missing people was prepared based on ration cards and voter records of the disaster-hit areas, the district administration said in a release.

“The list of missing people was prepared after collating the official records held by Gram Panchayat, ICDS, District Education Office, Labor Office, District Disaster Management Authority etc.,” it said.

Rahul Gandhi’s request to the govt

Leader of Opposition and Congress MP from Wayanad Rahul Gandhi has urged the government to declare the disaster of Wayanad a national disaster.

Speaking during Zero Hour, Gandhi also demanded higher compensation for the people affected.

Emphasising the need to declare the Wayanad landslides a national disaster, he said, “I saw it with my own eyes. I visited many different places where the disaster took place. In some cases, an entire family is gone, with just one person remaining, sometimes an adult or a child.” He also expressed his gratitude to those who helped during the disaster.

“With more than 200 dead and a vast number missing, the eventual casualty count may exceed 400,” Gandhi said.

With inputs from PTI

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PM Modi to visit landslide-hit Wayanad this week, conduct aerial surveys