Kerala Government Announces Financial Aid and Relief Measures for Wayanad Landslide Victims Amidst Ongoing Recovery Efforts

The Kerala government has announced a comprehensive financial assistance package for the survivors of the devastating landslides that struck Wayanad district on July 30, affecting the villages of Chooralmala, Mundakkai, and surrounding areas in the Meppadi panchayat. The tragic event has claimed the lives of at least 226 people, with a total of 403 incomplete body parts retrieved from the disaster site. Many of these remains were unidentified and were cremated in a mass burial at Puthumala, located five kilometers away from the landslide zone.

In a bid to support the affected families, who are currently sheltered in relief camps set up in government and aided schools across Wayanad, the Kerala government has announced a series of financial aid measures. Under the plan, two adults from each family that has lost their livelihood due to the disaster will receive ₹300 per day for a period of 30 days. In cases where a family member is suffering from a critical illness or is undergoing long-term hospital care, the financial assistance will be extended to three members of the family for the same duration. This initiative is designed to provide immediate relief to those who have lost their homes, property, and means of livelihood in the landslide.

In addition to the daily allowance, the Kerala government will provide an emergency financial assistance of ₹10,000 to each family currently residing in the relief camps. This immediate support is intended to help families manage their urgent needs while they await further rehabilitation.

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The Chief Minister’s Office issued a statement confirming that the district collector has been instructed to submit a detailed report on the temporary accommodations arranged for the survivors. This report is part of the first phase of the government’s rehabilitation plan. Once the report is finalized, efforts will be made to relocate the affected families to rented homes or government quarters, allowing educational institutions that are currently being used as relief camps to resume their regular operations.

The ongoing relief efforts in Wayanad are being overseen by a four-member ministerial sub-committee, which recently met with a central government team that visited the landslide-affected areas and the relief camps. The ministerial committee has requested ₹2,000 crore in assistance from the central government, specifically for the reconstruction of the devastated region. This demand will also be put forward to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who is scheduled to visit Wayanad on Saturday. Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan will accompany the prime minister during his visit.

The central team, led by Rajeev Kumar, Joint Secretary in the Home Ministry, conducted an assessment of the landslide’s impact on Wayanad. The team reviewed drone footage of the disaster-affected areas, spanning from Mundakkai to Chooralmala, and noted the extensive damage to infrastructure, including agricultural and commercial crops, livestock, houses, buildings, roads, and electricity.

In their briefing to the central team, the ministerial committee, along with the district collector Dr. Meghasree and other state government officials, detailed the ongoing relief efforts. These include the operation of relief camps, the conduct of autopsies, DNA examinations, and the identification of those deceased or still missing. The central team was informed of the urgent need for an expert study to understand the causes of the landslide and the broader impact on the region.

The ministerial committee, comprising ministers of public works, forests, revenue, and SC/ST affairs, also addressed the media, confirming that cleaning operations would commence as soon as the search and rescue efforts are officially concluded. They noted that the cleanup process across the three wards of Meppadi panchayat, which were severely affected by the landslide, is expected to take at least 90 days. The committee further emphasized the importance of promptly disbursing the ex-gratia relief announced by the Prime Minister’s Office to the families of the victims.

Due to Prime Minister Modi’s visit, search operations in the landslide-affected areas will be temporarily halted on Saturday. However, the commitment to ongoing relief and recovery efforts remains steadfast as the state and central governments continue to work together to restore normalcy in Wayanad.

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