Heartbreaking Scenes in Wayanad: Rahul Gandhi Stands with the Victims

Image Source : @INCIndia | LoP Rahul Gandhi & AICC General Secretary Smt Priyanka Gandhi visted the epicentre of landslides in Punchirimattam, Mundakkai.

Dated 2nd August 2024

By B R Abdul Wajid

Editor in Chief

Wayanad, Kerala | In a heartfelt address to the media in Wayanad, Shri Rahul Gandhi, Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha, expressed deep sorrow over the tragic situation in the region. Accompanied by Smt. Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, General Secretary of the All India Congress Committee (AICC), he highlighted the immense suffering of the people affected by the disaster.

Shri Rahul Gandhi began by thanking the media for their presence and acknowledged the gravity of the tragedy. “It’s a terrible tragedy for Wayanad, for Kerala and for the nation. We have come here to see the situation. It’s quite a painful experience to see how many people have lost family members, lost houses. It’s very difficult to speak to people in these circumstances because really you don’t know what to say to them,” he said.

He emphasized the need for immediate help and support for the survivors, many of whom are seeking relocation. “We are going to try and help, make sure that the survivors get what is their due. A lot of them want to be relocated, so I hope the government takes that into account. There is still a lot of work to be done here. But it is a huge tragedy,” he added.

Shri Gandhi also took the opportunity to commend the efforts of those working on the ground. “I would like to thank all the people who are working here—the doctors, the nurses, the administration, volunteers. I am very proud of everyone who is working here, but it’s very, very sad to see this,” he said.

He stressed the importance of focusing on the immediate needs of the people rather than political issues. “I don’t think this is the place or the time to talk about political issues. People here require help. So, I think the time right now is to make sure that all the assistance comes. There are people here who are in shock, they need medical assistance. So, I think those are the things we should be discussing. I am not interested in politics right now; I am interested in the people of Wayanad, I am interested in them getting the best possible care, best possible protection and you know… being looked after for the future.”

Reflecting on the emotional toll of the disaster, Shri Gandhi said, “I feel how I felt when my father died. I have seen so many people… I remember what I felt when my father died and here, people have not just lost their father, they have lost the whole family… entire family, brother, sister, mother, father. So, I know what I felt, and this is much worse than that and it’s not one person who is feeling it, it’s thousands of people who are feeling it. So, it’s very, very sad and I think we all owe these people respect, affection and we should all be standing with them.”

He concluded by expressing pride in the national support for Wayanad. “I am very proud that a lot of people are standing with the people of Wayanad. In fact, the whole nation’s attention is towards Wayanad and I am sure that the whole nation is going to help the people of Wayanad.”

Images Source : @INCIndia | LoP Rahul Gandhi & AICC General Secretary Smt Priyanka Gandhi visited the relief camp at St. Joseph School in Meppadi, standing resolutely with the families devasted by the landslide.

Smt. Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, General Secretary of the All India Congress Committee (AICC), expressed deep sorrow and solidarity with the people of Wayanad today. Speaking to the media alongside her brother, Shri Rahul Gandhi, she described the immense suffering of the victims and their families.

Smt. Priyanka Gandhi Vadra began by sharing her emotional experience, echoing her brother’s sentiments. “I feel very similar to what my brother feels. We have spent the whole day meeting people who have suffered. It’s an immense tragedy. We met a little boy who was holding on for six hours, trying to save his mother, his whole family and he failed, he managed to save his grandmother, but he failed to save his mother. We can only imagine the kind of pain that people are suffering,” she said.

She emphasized the need for providing comfort and support to the affected people. “We are here to give as much comfort and support as we can to help in any way we can, and I am also very proud to see how everybody is coming together not just from Wayanad and from Kerala, but from the whole country to help everybody who is going through this,” she added.

Addressing the concerns of the residents about returning to the affected area, she said, “I think one thing is very clear that everybody who has been affected, who is living in this area most of them are saying that they don’t want to go back and live in the same area, because it’s not the first time this has happened here. So, I think we will have to think of some solution, where they can be rehabilitated in a safer area.”

The visit of Shri Rahul Gandhi and Smt. Priyanka Gandhi Vadra has brought significant attention to the plight of Wayanad and it is hoped that their words will translate into swift and effective action for those in need.

Image Source : @INCIndia on X