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Wayanad Landslides: Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Saturday announced that the state government will set up a township to rehabilitate the survivors of the deadly landslides which struck the Mundakkai region of Wayanad district, killing at least 215 people.
Addressing a press conference in Thiruvananthapuram, Vijayan said a township will be established in a secure area to rehabilitate those displaced by the catastrophic landslides, adding that a comprehensive rehabilitation process is planned and will be implemented swiftly.
“The government plans a comprehensive rehabilitation process for the survivors, aiming for swift completion. A new, safer area will be identified for constructing a township. The Education Minister will visit Wayanad to ensure that children’s education is not disrupted,” Vijayan told reporters.
The chief minister said the state has received various offers from the global community to provide land and construct houses for the victims of the Wayanad landslides and a ‘Help for Wayanad’ cell has been formed under Joint Land Revenue Commissioner A Geetha to coordinate these offers.
Detailing the offers received, Vijayan said the Leader of Opposition V D Satheesan has informed that senior Congress leader Rahul Gandhi will construct 100 houses for rehabilitation.
Satheesan will be directly in charge of 25 of these houses, Vijayan said.
Additionally, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has also offered to construct 100 houses, Kerala CM said.
“I have called him (Siddaramaiah) to express our gratitude,” Vijayan said.
The CM added that Sobha Realty Group and Kozhikode-based Business Club have also offered to construct 50 houses each
Vijayan listed out the donations made to the Chief Minister’s Disaster Relief Fund (CMDRF), which includes celebrities and senior Congress politicians.
Meanwhile, the Wayanad district administration Saturday said at least 215 people have died in the July 30 tragedy, including 87 women and 30 children.
In a statement, the administration said 215 bodies have been recovered from the affected areas, four days after massive landslides devastated the north Kerala district, leaving behind a trail of death and destruction.
As per the statement, the 215 dead include 87 women and 30 children, adding that of the 215 bodies, 148 have been identified by relatives.
It further said that 143 body parts have also been recovered till date, while at least 206 people are still reported missing.
(With PTI inputs)
