Centre will provide all possible help in relief and rehabilitation, says PM Modi after Wayanad visit

Thiruvananthapuram: Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who visited the landslide hit areas of Wayanad and interacted with the survivors at relief camps and hospital on Saturday, has assured centre's support for the rehabilitation and relief measures.

Modi asked the state government to submit a detailed memorandum on the relief and rehabilitation measures, including long term support measures for children who are orphaned in the landslide.

"The Centre will stand with the Kerala government and will take a generous stand on the state government's memorandum," Modi said.

Even as Modi was initially scheduled to spend three hours at Wayanad, he spent over five hours. After an aerial visit of the landslide hit areas, Modi visited the landslide ravaged Chooralmala, where he spent nearly one hour visiting the Vellarmala school that was damaged in the landslide and the bailey bridge constructed by the army. Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and senior government officials briefed him about the destruction caused by the landslide.

Later the Prime Minister visited a relief camp and hospital and interacted with the survivors of the landslide. He also spent time with kids who survived the calamity and also interacted with the doctors and rescue workers.

Subsequently, the Prime Minister attended a review meeting at the district collectorate where the chief minister, ministers and officials briefed him about the extent of damage caused by the landslide and the rehabilitation plans and challenges ahead.

Addressing the meeting, Modi said that the centre would extend all sorts of support for the rehabilitation of the landslide hit people. "The landslide had shattered the dreams of scores of families. Many children lost their parents. It is the responsibility of all of us to bring them back to life. Long term support plans need to be framed to support the children who lost their parents," he said.

Recollecting his experience as a volunteer during the 1979 dam disaster that devastated Morbi town in Gujarat, Modi said that he got a first hand feel of the sufferings of the people with his visit to Wayanad. The survivors had briefed him about the harrowing experience of having witnessed the landslide. Now it would be easier for him to take a decision on the state government's memorandum for the rehabilitation of the affected people, he said.

Kerala revenue minister K Rajan and forest minister A K Saseendran said the Prime Minister responded favourably to the state's requests. The chief minister reiterated the need to consider the Wayanad landslide a 'Level-3' disaster. It is one of the most devastating natural calamities of recent times, the prime minister said.

Modi who reached Kannur airport was received by the chief minister and Governor Arif Mohammed Khan. Minister of state for tourism Suresh Gopi accompanied Modi. From Kannur he travelled to Wayanad by helicopter visiting the landslide hit areas.