In the wake of the recent devastating landslides in Wayanad, Kerala, Congress MP Jebi Mather has called for the disaster to be declared a national emergency. The landslides, which struck Mundakkai and Chooralmala early on July 30, caused severe destruction and numerous casualties, according to reports from the Kerala Revenue Department.
Jebi Mather expressed profound grief over the catastrophe, emphasising the scale of the disaster. “It is a big tragedy. We are still unable to measure the magnitude of the tragedy,” she said. She highlighted the severe impact, noting that multiple family members are still missing, and stressed the need for a collective effort to restore normalcy in the affected areas.
Mather underscored the importance of rehabilitation in the aftermath of such disasters and proposed that the landslides be officially recognized as a national disaster. She stated, “Rehabilitation is important and this should be declared as a national disaster. At this moment, I wish to say that the Congress is doing their best to help the affected people.”
On the same day, prominent Congress leaders including Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi visited the disaster-stricken area in Chooralmala. They were joined by Congress general secretary KC Venugopal. Their visit was aimed at assessing the damage and coordinating relief efforts.
Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan also held a high-level meeting with political leaders, state ministers, and officials to address the crisis. During the meeting, Vijayan emphasised the immediate focus on rescuing trapped individuals and initiating rehabilitation efforts.
“Our focus is to rescue those who were isolated and stranded. I appreciate the efforts of the Army personnel. They have informed us that most of the trapped individuals have been rescued,” he said.
Vijayan noted the challenges faced in the rescue operations, particularly in reaching those trapped under the soil. He commended the construction of a bridge that facilitated rescue efforts and assured that operations would continue, with a shift towards rehabilitation once the immediate rescue phase is complete.
The Chief Minister’s remarks also highlighted the ongoing efforts in the river to search for missing persons and the priority placed on rehabilitation to help affected communities recover from the disaster.
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