Prime Minister Narendra Modi reached Kerala’s landslide-affected Wayanad district on Saturday. He walked on foot in Choorlamala and assessed the damage caused by the disaster. Officials said that Modi reached Wayanad from Kannur airport via an Air Force helicopter. He walked on foot in the Choorlamala area affected by massive landslides on July 30 and took stock of the damage. Earlier, PM Modi had conducted an aerial survey of landslide-affected Choorlamala, Mundakkai and Punchirimattam from an Indian Air Force helicopter.
According to officials, after the aerial survey, PM Modi’s helicopter landed at SKMJ Vidyalaya in Kalpetta. From here he left for Choorlamalla by road. In Choorlamalla, the Army has built a 190-foot long Bailey bridge to help in relief and rescue operations after the disaster. Modi walked across this bridge to take stock of the damage. PM Modi interacted with rescue workers, state Chief Secretary V Venu and district officials, then surveyed the area filled with stones and debris on foot.
PM Modi did an aerial survey
During this, Kerala Governor Arif Mohammad Khan, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and Union Minister of State for Tourism and Petroleum and Natural Gas Suresh Gopi were also with him. Officials said that during the aerial survey, he saw the epicenter of the landslide, which is at the origin of Iruvazhinji Puzha (river). He also took stock of the most affected areas of Punchirimattam, Mundakkai and Choorlamalla. Hundreds of people gathered on the roadside to get a glimpse of the Prime Minister on the route of his convoy between Wayanad and Choorlamalla. 226 people were killed in massive landslides in Wayanad district of Kerala on July 30. Many people are still missing in the area.
A review meeting was called as soon as the information was received
The Prime Minister reviewed the meeting on 30 July as soon as he received information about the Wayanad tragedy. He had instructed to engage NDRF, Army, Air Force and Navy in relief and rescue work. More than 1200 personnel from the three wings of the Army and central forces as well as fire and civil defence were engaged in relief and rescue work on the spot. The Army quickly installed a 190 feet wellfoot in the affected area in Wayanad and made the movement smooth. This made it possible for the movement of ambulances and heavy machinery for relief work. The Center has also sent an inter-ministerial team to visit the area, which has been visiting the affected areas since August 8 and assessing the damage.
