During his visit to the landslide-devastated region of Wayanad on Saturday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed deep concern over the tragic impact of the disaster on local communities, particularly on children.
He first stopped at the severely damaged Government Vocational Higher Secondary School (GVHS) in Vellarmala after arriving in Kalpetta.
During the visit, Prime Minister Modi, visibly moved by the destruction, turned to Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and Union Minister Suresh Gopi, asking, “How many children have lost their loved ones?”
The emotional inquiry highlighted his concern for the young students affected by the landslide.
Accompanying the Prime Minister was an Inter-Ministerial Central Team (IMCT), which had been assessing the damage in the region for the past three days.
The GVHS School in Vellarmala, which had 582 students enrolled, has reported 27 students missing in the aftermath of the disaster.
The Prime Minister spent around 15 minutes at the site, asking the Chief Minister detailed questions about the rehabilitation efforts for the landslide victims and the plans for rebuilding the school.
In addition to the school, Prime Minister Modi visited a 190-foot Bailey bridge constructed by the Indian Army. He walked across the bridge, engaging with defense officials involved in the relief efforts.
The Prime Minister also took time to visit a local hospital, where he met with injured victims and expressed his support.
Following this, he visited a relief camp to assess the ongoing aid work and speak with displaced residents.
Prime Minister To Chair Recovery Review Meeting With Kerala Officials
Later in the day, the Prime Minister was likely to chair a review meeting, joined by Kerala Governor Arif Mohammed Khan, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, and other key officials, to discuss further steps in the recovery process.
This visit came a day after the Kerala government requested Rs 2,000 crore in financial assistance from the Central government to support rehabilitation and relief efforts in the disaster-stricken region.
The landslide, which struck on 30 July, has resulted in 416 confirmed deaths, with over 150 people still missing.
Before his visit to Wayanad, Prime Minister Modi landed at Kannur airport, where he was welcomed by the Kerala Governor, Chief Minister, and top officials from both the Central and state governments.
He is likely to return to Kannur later in the evening before flying back to Delhi.
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