Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka visit landslide-hit spot in Wayanad

Congress leader and former Wayanad MP Rahul Gandhi and his sister Priyanka Gandhi Vadra visited the landslide-affected area of Chooralmala Wayanad in Kerala on Thursday afternoon.After reaching the spot amidst the rain, Gandhi and his sister left for the Community Health Centre in Meppadi, party sources said.As many as 256 people have died so far after three landslides struck Wayanad on Tuesday, following heavy rain. Mundakkai, Chooralmala, Attamala, and Noolpuzha villages in the Kerala district were the worst affected due to the landslides. Over 200 people are also injured in the landslides. The Army has rescued around 1,000 people and 220 people are still missing, as rescue operations entered the third day on Thursday.

LoP Shri @RahulGandhi & AICC General Secretary Smt. @priyankagandhi ji visit the Chooralmala landslide site in Wayanad where devastating landslides have claimed many lives and left families devastated.

Kerala pic.twitter.com/EnPakO8tJC

— Congress (@INCIndia) August 1, 2024

A Command and Control Centre has been set up in Kozhikode by the Army for coordinating Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) efforts, PTI reported. Kerala Health Minister Veena George said, "At least 1,500 Army personnel have been deployed for the rescue operation. We have deployed forensic surgeons." Several countries, including the US, Russia, China and Iran, expressed condolences over the deaths due to landslides.