Congress leader Rahul Gandhi expressed deep sorrow on Thursday while visiting the landslide-ravaged areas of Wayanad in Kerala. Accompanied by his sister Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, Rahul Gandhi compared the devastation to the personal grief he felt when his father, former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi, died in 1991.
"It is a terrible tragedy for Wayanad, for Kerala, and for the nation. We have come here to see the situation. It is painful to see how many people have lost family members and their houses. We will try to help and make sure that the survivors get what is their due,? Gandhi said while addressing reporters.
He added, "A lot of them want to be relocated. There is a lot that needs to be done here. I would like to thank all those, including doctors, nurses, administration, and volunteers."
The massive landslides, which struck Mundakkai and Churalmala in Wayanad on July 30, caused extensive destruction. About 250 people have been killed and over 200 injured. Rescue teams are racing against time to trace the missing people.
Rahul Gandhi, his sister Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, and AICC General Secretary and Alappuzha MP KC Venugopal arrived in Wayanad earlier today. They visited the landslide-affected area of Chooralmala and a hospital and community health centre in Meppadi.
During his interaction with reporters, Rahul Gandhi turned emotional. "Today, I feel how I felt when my father (Rajiv Gandhi) died. Here, people have not just lost a father but an entire family. We all owe these people respect and affection," Gandhi said. "The whole nation's attention is towards Wayanad."
He also urged that no politics should be done and that it was the time to prioritize aid and assistance to Wayanad. ?I don't think this is the time or place to talk about political issues. People here require help. The time right now is to make sure that all assistance comes,? Rahul Gandhi said. "I am not interested in politics right now. I am interested in the people of Wayanad."
Priyanka Gandhi Vadra echoed her brother's sentiments, stating that the party is there to offer as much comfort and support as possible. ?We have spent the entire day meeting people who have suffered. It's an immense tragedy. We can only imagine the kind of pain the people are enduring. We are here to offer as much comfort and support as possible,? Priyanka said. ?There has been a similar tragedy in Himachal Pradesh as well. Tomorrow, we plan to convene and outline how we can assist, especially the children who have been left alone,? she added.
