Wayanad, 21 July (H.S.) :Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra will visit Wayanad on Friday to inspect the site of the Kalladi landslide and meet those injured in the disaster that struck the district earlier this month. The visit comes weeks after the tragedy and amid criticism from the BJP over the delay in the Congress leadership visiting the affected area.
The BJP had alleged that neither former Wayanad MP Rahul Gandhi nor the sitting MP Priyanka Gandhi had visited the disaster site or met the victims despite the passage of several weeks. The party accused the Congress leaders of appearing in the constituency only during election campaigns and failing to stand with the affected families during times of crisis.
Meanwhile, the Kerala government has ordered a dual investigation into the circumstances that led to the landslide. State Minister T. Siddique announced that the construction company associated with the tunnel project would provide compensation to the victims and their families.
According to the minister, the families of the seven people who lost their lives in the accident will receive ₹6 lakh each as immediate financial assistance. The family of Almon, a contract worker who was also killed, will be paid ₹5 lakh. Of the nine people injured in the incident, six will receive financial assistance of ₹2.5 lakh each from the company.
The landslide occurred on July 8 at around 11.30 a.m. near Meenakshi Bridge, adjacent to the tunnel construction site at Kalladi. Workers engaged in the tunnel project, security personnel and supervisory staff were caught in the collapse. Most of those affected were migrant labourers employed at the project site.
The accident took place on the only road connecting Meppadi and Chooralmala, temporarily disrupting access to the region and triggering a large-scale rescue operation. The tragedy also renewed concerns over safety standards at major infrastructure projects in the ecologically fragile hill district of Wayanad.
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Hindusthan Samachar / Arun Lakshman
