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Journalism of Courage
Early on July 30, the beautiful landscape of Kerala’s Wayanad turned into ruins as a series of unanticipated landslides struck the hilly district. The natural calamity claimed 277 lives. Over 240 people remain missing, and 1,500 have been rescued from the affected areas.
As rescue operations continue in Wayand, local shopkeepers, celebrities, politicians, NGOs and others have united to provide relief for the victims. On July 30, a video showing a shoe shop owner emptying his stock to aid the victims emerged on social media. The shop owner, in the video, can be heard saying, “No matter how much you give, it won’t be enough.”
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In another video, actor Nikhila Vimal was seen collecting essentials at the Taliparamba collection center.
PA Mohammed Riyas, minister for PWD and tourism, and K Rajan, minister of revenue and housing of Kerala joined hands in the rescue mission. A viral video showed the ministers escorting the displaced families to a shelter.
United Democratic Front (UDF) leaders and Indian Youth Congress Kerala leaders came forward to join the rescue operations.
Annie Raja, National Secretary CPI, visited the victims of the Wayanad landslides. In the viral photos, Raja was seen interacting with several women and monitoring the situation at the shelter.
Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, meanwhile, chaired an all-party meeting in Wayanad to address the crisis. On Thursday, Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra arrived at the affected areas and are set to visit relief camps and the medical college to support the affected families.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has announced an ex-gratia of Rs 2 lakh for the families of the deceased and Rs 50,000 for the injured.
