The Uttar Pradesh Government has announced a contribution of Rs 10 crore towards the relief and rehabilitation efforts in Wayanad, Kerala, which was recently devastated by massive landslides. The announcement was made by the office of Kerala Governor Arif Mohammed Khan, who had personally requested the support from Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath.
In a letter to Governor Khan, Chief Minister Adityanath expressed his government’s and the people of Uttar Pradesh’s deep concern for the affected citizens of Kerala. “The Uttar Pradesh Government has granted a humble contribution of Rs 10 crore toward the relief and rehabilitation efforts made by the Government of Kerala,” Adityanath stated, reaffirming UP’s commitment to stand by Kerala during this difficult time.
The landslides, which occurred on July 30, have caused widespread devastation in the district of Wayanad, particularly affecting the villages of Mundakkai and Chooralmala. According to official records, the death toll has reached 231, with at least 119 people still reported missing. The disaster has severely impacted the lives of thousands, with entire communities in the affected areas facing massive destruction of property and loss of life.
The support from Uttar Pradesh is part of a larger national response to the tragedy in Wayanad. The Madhya Pradesh government, led by Chief Minister Mohan Yadav, has pledged Rs 20 crore in financial assistance to Kerala. Similarly, the Governments of Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu have contributed Rs 10 crore and Rs 5 crore respectively to the Kerala Chief Minister’s Distress Relief Fund. Additionally, Maharashtra has announced a contribution of Rs 10 crore, while Karnataka’s Siddaramaiah government has promised to build 100 houses for those who lost their homes in the disaster.
In response to the disaster, Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan emphasised that climate change is a significant factor contributing to the increasing frequency and severity of such natural calamities. “The root cause of the Wayanad disaster is climate change. The agricultural sector is one of the most directly impacted by this phenomenon. At this stage, our primary focus should be on discussing the impact of climate change on agriculture and the measures needed to overcome these challenges,” Vijayan said at a press conference earlier this month.
A study conducted by World Weather Attribution (WWA), an international group of researchers, found that the heavy rainfall which triggered the landslides was a “once in a 50-year event” made about 10 percent heavier by human-caused climate change. The study highlights that such intense rainfall events are becoming more common in Kerala due to global warming, which has raised temperatures by 1.3 degrees Celsius.
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