Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah Announces Aid for Kerala Landslide Victims
Bengaluru (Karnataka), July 31: Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah expressed his condolences for the lives lost in the landslide in Kerala’s Wayanad and announced a compensation of Rs 5 lakh each to the deceased Kannadigas.
The landslide, which struck the hilly areas of Meppadi in Wayanad district on Tuesday following heavy rainfall, has claimed 164 lives, according to the Kerala Chief Minister.
Sharing a post on his official X handle, Siddaramaiah said, “The death toll in Kerala’s Wayanad landslide continues to rise. This is a very heinous tragedy, the fact that Kannadigas lost their lives in this tragedy made it even more painful.”
He added, “The deceased Kannadigars will be given a compensation of Rs 5 lakh each. Meanwhile, I pray that the soul of the deceased may rest in peace.”
The Karnataka Chief Minister stated that the state administration has sent officials to Kerala for rescue work. “Already, two senior IAS officers of the state, the NDRF team, and the army teams are busy in the rescue work. Today Minister Santosh Lad is being sent to Wayanad to take charge of defense work. Saving the lives of the victims is our priority and our government is working hard to bring the Kannadigas in distress safely to Nadi,” Siddaramaiah said.
Meanwhile, the Southern Naval Command dispatched a disaster relief team of 68 personnel from INS Zamorin at Ezhimala to the landslide-affected areas in Kerala’s Wayanad. The team, equipped with medical personnel and necessary equipment, arrived at the site at 10 pm the same day. Additional teams are on standby and will be deployed as needed. An Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH) detachment in Search and Rescue (SAR) configuration was deployed from Kochi to Calicut to support the rescue efforts.
The regional meteorological department has issued a warning for heavy rainfall in five districts, including Wayanad. An Orange Alert has been issued for Malappuram, Kozhikode, Wayanad, Kannur, and Kasaragod, while a Yellow Alert is in place for Pathanamthitta, Alappuzha, Kottayam, Ernakulam, Idukki, Thrissur, and Palakkad districts. No rain warnings are in effect for Thiruvananthapuram and Kollam.
The Kerala government is compiling a list of those affected by the landslide. Kerala Revenue and Housing Minister K Rajan said that the number of people involved in the accident will be available by this evening. “The list will be prepared based on the ration cards and mustering records of plantations. The camps will continue, and comprehensive measures for rehabilitation will be taken soon,” Rajan said.
Doubts Revealed
Karnataka -: Karnataka is a state in the southern part of India. It has a lot of big cities like Bengaluru, which is known as the ‘Silicon Valley of India’.
CM -: CM stands for Chief Minister. The Chief Minister is the head of the government in a state in India, like a principal in a school but for the whole state.
Siddaramaiah -: Siddaramaiah is the name of the current Chief Minister of Karnataka. He is a politician who helps make important decisions for the state.
Kerala -: Kerala is another state in the southern part of India. It is known for its beautiful backwaters and greenery.
Landslide -: A landslide happens when a lot of rocks and soil slide down a hill or mountain. It can be very dangerous and can destroy homes and roads.
Wayanad -: Wayanad is a district in Kerala. It is known for its hills, forests, and wildlife.
Compensation -: Compensation is money given to someone to help them after something bad has happened, like losing a family member.
Kannadiga -: A Kannadiga is a person who comes from Karnataka. They speak the Kannada language.
Southern Naval Command -: The Southern Naval Command is a part of the Indian Navy that operates in the southern part of India. They help with rescue missions and protect the country.
Weather alerts -: Weather alerts are warnings given by the government to tell people about bad weather, like heavy rain or storms, so they can stay safe.
