MoS Suresh Gopi Calls for ‘Very Diligent Decisions’ in Wayanad Landslide Rehabilitation

Union Minister Suresh Gopi said that “very diligent decisions” need to be made in the rehabilitation process in Wayanad, where massive landslides have claimed over 300 lives. Speaking to ANI in Delhi on Monday, MoS Suresh Gopi mentioned that further actions are still under assessment by the district administration.

“They are sending me a report. I have conducted a ground reality check; I visited the initial crack site and assessed the extent of the debris,” Suresh Gopi said. “All the concerned data should come from the district administration and must be endorsed by the state government as well. Once it reaches me, I’ll present it to the Prime Minister. Very diligent, intelligent decisions need to be made in the rehabilitation process,” the MoS added.

Union Minister Bhupendra Yadav criticized the state government for “allowing encroachment” in the area where landslides occurred, causing widespread devastation on July 30. Bhupendra Yadav alleged that illegal human habitation and mining activities have been taking place with the local government’s protection.

“Even in the name of tourism, proper zoning was not established. They allowed encroachment in this highly sensitive area. We have already constituted a committee headed by former Director General of Forests Sanjay Kumar, which has corresponded with the Kerala government. We believe the state government is at fault. There has been illegal habitation and mining activity with the protection of the local government,” Yadav said.

The rescue and relief operations in landslide-hit areas of Wayanad entered their seventh consecutive day on Monday, with the death toll at 308. According to state government data, 220 bodies have been recovered so far, and 180 people are still missing.

Speaking about the ongoing rescue operations, South Wayanad DFO Ajit K Raman said that on Sunday, 18 people who had come from Nilambur were stranded in the Parappambara area but were later located by the forest department team. “Our forest party conducted a search from the Kandambara side to the Parappambara side. The forest department team contacted them and confirmed their safety. However, we could not conduct any search operations last night. This morning, with the help of the NDRF, we conducted a search, located them, and provided them with food and provisions. The deceased body they identified yesterday was also airlifted,” Ajit K Raman said.

Late on Sunday night, the district administration carried out the mass burial of the unidentified victims of the landslides. Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan had earlier directed the district administration to perform the formalities with interfaith prayers.

Upon the Kerala Government’s request, the Indian Air Force on August 3 airlifted one ZAWER and four REECO radars from Siachen and Delhi for the search operations.

(With ANI Inputs)

Also Read: Wayanad Landslide Update: Union Minister George Kurien Briefs PM Modi On Rescue Operation