Kerala Landslide Rescue Efforts Continue Amidst Political Row

As rescue operations persist in the landslide-stricken Wayanad, Congress MP KC Venugopal urged against political blaming. This comes after remarks by Union Minister Bhupender Yadav. Collaborative rescue efforts by the IAF and Army are ongoing, with the Kerala CM promising world-class rehabilitation for affected areas.

As rescue and relief operations continue for the ninth day in landslide-affected areas of Kerala's Wayanad, Congress Lok Sabha MP KC Venugopal emphasized that this is not the time for political blame games. 'Our stand is very clear now. This is not the time for a blame game. Whether it is Centre or State, blaming each other is totally avoidable. The entire country is weeping, bodies are still inside the mud. A political party has a responsibility to go along with everybody on rescue operations and conduct the rehabilitation process. This is an unwanted controversy created by the Centre,' Venugopal told ANI.

His remarks were prompted after Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav blamed the Kerala government's policies for the landslides in Wayanad. On Monday, Yadav told ANI, 'The state government should also submit its report of the Committee headed by former Director General of Forests Sanjay Kumar. Illegal habitation and mining should not be conducted in the ecosensitive zone. We suffered the loss due to it.'

Meanwhile, rescue operations by the Indian Air Force, Army, and state authorities are underway in the landslide-affected Wayanad region of Kerala. 'Collaborative rescue operations conducted by the IAF, IA, and state authorities are ongoing in the landslide-affected Wayanad region. A specialized team of soldiers, along with the Army, was airlifted by the IAF from Kalpetta to Chaliyar River,' PRO Defence Kochi posted on X.

Wayanad's Chooralmala and Mundakkai were hit by massive landslides on July 30, claiming over 300 lives and causing widespread property damage. Earlier today, a special team consisting of six trained Army personnel, four SOGs (Special Operation Groups) of Kerala Police, two Forest Officers, and a dog squad left for the Sunrise Valley of Soojippara waterfalls in Wayanad to conduct a search operation.

'In continuation of yesterday's operation, today we are also sending a team. We are including a cadaver dog and its handler. It is a 13-member team. We want to explore further downstream. Yesterday, we covered 4 kilometers. Today, we are trying to cover some more areas,' said Taposh Basumatary, Superintendent of Police, SOG, to ANI. On Tuesday, Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said that the government would ensure world-class rehabilitation in the landslide-hit areas of the Wayanad district, which will serve as an example.

Addressing a press conference, Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said, 'We will ensure world-class rehabilitation. Our goal is to implement a resettlement model that can serve as an example for the nation and the world.' The Kerala CM further noted that government employees and teachers have come forward to contribute at least 5 percent of their salary to the CM disaster relief fund.

Highlighting the total funds in the CMDRF, Vijayan stated, 'From July 30 until Monday, we have received Rs 53.98 crores in the disaster relief fund.' (ANI)

(With inputs from agencies.)