New Delhi: Leader of Opposition (LoP) in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday raised the issue of tragic landslides in the Wayanad district of Kerala and said that rising incidents of natural calamity was a serious concern and called for urgent mapping of landslide prone areas.
Raising the issue during Zero Hour, Gandhi said, “Early this morning, Wayanad was hit by several devastating landslides. More than 70 people have been killed. Mundakai village has been cut off and the devastating loss of lives and extensive damage is yet to be assessed, due to the scale of the tragedy,” he said.
The Congress MP from Raebareli said that he had spoken to the Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and the Chief Minister of Kerala with regard to the tragic incident.
“I request the Union government to extend all possible support for rescue and medical care. Immediate release of the compensation to deceased people and the compensation can be increased as well, restore vital transport communication lines, set up relief centers at the earliest and prepare a roadmap for the rehabilitation of the affected families,” the LoP said.
He said, “Landslides loose over many areas in Wayanad and the Western Ghats, our country has witnessed an alarming rise in the landslides in the last few years. There is an urgent need for mapping of landslide prone areas and to take up mitigating measures and an action plan to address the growing frequency of natural calamities in the ecologically fragile region”.
Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi are expected to visit Wayanad where massive landslides have claimed more than 70 lives. (with Agency inputs)
