Congress leader Rahul Gandhi expressed deep sorrow over the destruction caused by landslides in Kerala’s Wayanad during his visit to the area with his sister Priyanka Gandhi Vadra. Reflecting on the tragedy, Gandhi likened his emotions to those he felt when his father, former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi, died in 1991.
“It is a terrible tragedy for Wayanad, for Kerala, and the nation. We have come here to see the situation. It is painful to see how many people have lost family members and their houses. We will try to help and make sure that the survivors get what is their due,” said Gandhi while addressing reporters. He emphasized the need for relocation and aid for the affected people and thanked the doctors, nurses, administration, and volunteers for their efforts.
The massive landslides that struck Mundakkai and Churalmala in Wayanad on July 30 caused extensive destruction, killing about 250 people and injuring over 200. Rescue teams are racing against time to trace the missing people.
During his interaction with reporters, Rahul Gandhi turned emotional, stating, “Today, I feel how I felt when my father (Rajiv Gandhi) died. Here, people have not just lost a father but an entire family. We all owe these people respect and affection.” He urged that no politics should be done and emphasized the need to prioritize aid and assistance to Wayanad. “I am not interested in politics right now. I am interested in the people of Wayanad,” he said.
Priyanka Gandhi Vadra echoed her brother’s sentiments, stating that the Congress party is there to offer as much comfort and support as possible. “We have spent the entire day meeting people who have suffered. It’s an immense tragedy. We can only imagine the kind of pain the people are enduring. We are here to offer as much comfort and support as possible,” she said. Priyanka also mentioned that there has been a similar tragedy in Himachal Pradesh and that they plan to convene to outline how they can assist, especially the children who have been left alone.