Wayanad landslide: Govt ensured quick relief, says CM Satheesan
Kerala Chief Minister VD Satheesan on Wednesday said the State Government had effectively carried out rescue, relief and rehabilitation measures following the recent Wayanad landslide and praised the ministers and the district administration for their coordinated efforts.
Replying to questions at a press conference, Satheesan said all the work to be undertaken by the Government in the aftermath of the disaster had been carried out effectively.
He commended Revenue Minister AP Anil Kumar and Agriculture Minister T Siddique for their work in Wayanad following the landslide.
The CM said that, unlike in many disaster situations where search operations are wound up after some time, authorities in Wayanad continued the efforts until all eight bodies were recovered.
He said special arrangements were made for the relatives of victims who had come from outside the State, and the Government facilitated the transportation of the bodies, including by arranging a special aircraft.
Satheesan said rehabilitation measures had been initiated in the affected area and all residents living in identified danger zones had been shifted to safer places.
He said ministers had held discussions with the Konkan Railway authorities and its subsidiary, which carried out work at the landslide site, to coordinate further measures related to the disaster.
The CM said the Government had also reached an understanding under which, in addition to the compensation announced by the State, the company concerned would provide additional compensation to the victims.
“All these activities were carried out efficiently under the leadership of the ministers and the district administration,” he said.
Asked why Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra had not visited the landslide site, Satheesan said both leaders were out of station and therefore could not travel to Wayanad.
Eight people were killed and several others injured in a landslide on July 7 at the site of the Anakkompoyil-Meppadi tunnel project, which is intended to improve connectivity between Wayanad and Kozhikode districts.
