Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan Promises World-Class Rehabilitation for Wayanad Landslide Victims

Wayanad (Kerala) [India], August 6: Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan announced that the government will ensure world-class rehabilitation in the landslide-hit areas of Wayanad district. Speaking at a press conference, he stated, “We will ensure world-class rehabilitation. Our goal is to implement a resettlement model that can serve as an example for the nation and the world.”

Vijayan highlighted that government employees and teachers have pledged to contribute at least 5 percent of their salary to the disaster relief fund. He said, “Government employees and teachers have come forward to contribute to the disaster relief fund. We have communicated with organization leaders, and they have indicated that at least five days’ salary will be donated. Those willing to contribute should provide a letter to their respective heads of institutions.”

He also mentioned that financial and medical assistance will be provided to workers in the landslide-hit areas, ensuring the safety of migrant workers in Mundakkai and Chooralmala. “The Labour Board will provide medical and financial assistance to both plantation workers and migrant workers,” he added.

Vijayan noted that from July 30 until the previous day, Rs 53.98 crores had been received in the disaster relief fund. He assured that quality supplies would be provided to victims and workers, and 1,174 personnel from various forces have been deployed for search operations. “We must ensure the quality of food supplies provided to rescuers and workers. People in school camps need to be relocated. We will provide opportunities to retrieve valuable items from homes in the disaster-affected area. The legal aspects of demolishing hazardous buildings will be examined. Only rescue personnel should be allowed in the disaster-affected area,” he said.

Vijayan also mentioned that the Public Works Department will assess the damage to buildings to determine compensation, and experts will evaluate which buildings need to be demolished. “It has been one week since the Wayanad disaster. We have conducted a thorough search operation, leaving no stone unturned in our efforts to locate the missing persons. Intensive search operations were carried out today from the epicentre of the landslide. Officially, 224 people have been confirmed dead,” he stated.

Earlier, the Kerala Catholic Bishops’ Committee (KCBC) decided to build 100 houses for those who lost their homes due to landslides in Churalmala, Mundakai, and Kozhikode Vilangad areas in Wayanad. The decision was made in an August 5 meeting chaired by President Cardinal Basilios Clemis Katholika Bawa at Mount St. Thomas in Kakanad. All dioceses, monastic communities, church institutions, individuals, and systems of the Kerala Catholic Church are working jointly on the disaster management plan.