On August 2, Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Vadra visited the villages of Mundakkai and Punchiri Mattam in Wayanad, Kerala, which have been severely affected by recent landslides. Their visit, however, was marred by a heated reception from local residents, who voiced their frustration and disappointment.
During their visit, Gandhi and Priyanka were confronted by locals who stopped their vehicles, expressing their grievances directly.
“Brother, ask him to stop the car! We are the people who voted for him and made him win. If he is so concerned about not getting out of the car and dirtying his legs in the mud, why has he come here? What is there to see here?” one resident remarked, highlighting their frustration with Gandhi’s apparent reluctance to engage fully with the situation on the ground.
Kerala: LoP in the Lok Sabha and Congress MP Rahul Gandhi, along with Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi, visited the villages of Mundakkai and Punchiri Mattam in Wayanad affected by a landslide.
While there, they were stopped by locals and residents who said, “Brother, ask him to… pic.twitter.com/PHgSmfLwxR
— IANS (@ians_india) August 2, 2024
The situation in Wayanad is dire, with communities grappling with the aftermath of the landslides that have devastated their homes and livelihoods. The locals’ discontent was palpable, as they accused Rahul Gandhi of abandoning them during their time of need.
“The people of Wayanad are suffering. This is one of the worst situations in their lives. Yet, their MP, who received a majority of votes and a significant margin from Wayanad district, has abandoned them and fled to Uttar Pradesh. It is astonishing that the MP is visiting his own constituency as a tourist,” said Sandeep Vaachaspathi, State Spokesperson of BJP Kerala.
On August 2, the death toll from the landslides at Chooralmala and Mundakkai reached 334, with the Army, NDRF, and Navy personnel recovering additional bodies. Officials are concerned that the number may increase further, as 281 people remain unaccounted for.
The twin landslides that struck Mundakkai and Chooralmala in the early hours of July 30 caused widespread destruction, resulting in numerous fatalities and injuries. Approximately 300 individuals are still reported missing. The district administration has relocated 9,328 people to 91 relief camps across Wayanad. The health department reported that a total of 327 autopsies, including those of recovered body parts, have been conducted.
