Rahul Gandhi Joins Wayanad Rescue Operation As Death Toll Hits 256

Rescue efforts are ongoing in Wayanad, Kerala, where devastating landslides have caused widespread damage. The army, navy, and coast guard are actively searching in Attamala, Mundakkai, and Churalmala.

Rahul Gandhi, the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, and Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra traveled from Delhi to Wayanad on Thursday morning. They are there to assess the situation and meet with families affected by the landslides. The death toll has risen to around 250, with hundreds still missing.

Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi, who are both running in the upcoming by-elections, are expected to visit the affected areas. The landslides struck Mundakkai and Churalmala in the early hours of July 30, causing significant damage. According to Kerala’s Health Minister Veena George, the death toll has reached 256.

Latest Updates on the Wayanad Landslides:

– An all-party meeting, chaired by Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, will be held on Thursday to discuss rescue operations. The meeting will include state ministers, Wayanad MLAs, and political party leaders to coordinate efforts in the affected areas.

– Kerala Governor Arif Mohammed Khan has described the landslides as a “colossal tragedy” and has expressed sympathy for those affected.

– Construction is underway for a 190-foot-long Bailey bridge to connect Mundakkai and Chooralmala and improve rescue operations.

– Union Home Minister Amit Shah criticized the Kerala government for not acting quickly enough on warnings about potential landslides from the central government.

– Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan responded, saying that only an orange alert was issued by the India Meteorological Department (IMD), and the rainfall was heavier than predicted.

– Rescue efforts have successfully saved 1,386 people, including 528 men, 559 women, and 299 children, who have been moved to seven camps. 201 people are currently hospitalized, with 90 still receiving treatment.

– The rescue teams are using sniffer dogs and advanced detection systems to find people buried under the debris.

– Financial aid is being mobilized, with prominent figures and organizations, including Lulu Group Chairman M A Yusuff Ali, industrialist Ravi Pillai, Kalyan Jewellers owner Kalyana Raman, KSFE, and the Adani Group, each contributing ₹5 crore to the Chief Minister’s Disaster Relief Fund (CMDRF).

– Russian President Vladimir Putin has sent condolences to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Droupadi Murmu for the loss of lives and injuries caused by the landslides.