Wayanad: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit Wayanad on Saturday (August 10) to take stock of the destruction caused by the massive landslides in the hill district. Manorama News reported that he will land at Kannur airport on Saturday morning. A helicopter carrying the PM is expected to reach Kalpetta around noon.
He will conduct an aerial survey of the devastated areas during the visit. Modi will meet the landslide survivors at the relief camps, the report said. The PM will leave for Delhi from Kannur airport by 3.45 pm.
Traffic curbs
In connection with the visit of the PM, there would be massive restrictions for vehicular movement through NH 766 in Kalpetta town and various parts of Meppadi town from 10 am on Saturday, District Police Superintendent T Narayanan said in a press release.
Vehicular parking will not be allowed in Kalpetta and Meppadi towns from 10 am till the visit and return of the Prime Minister. Only emergency vehicles like ambulances, would be allowed to the restricted zones.
Vehicular movement and parking of vehicles including taxis will not be allowed on the Kalpetta-bypass junction at Kainatty to WIMS Hospital, Meppadi, and from Meppadi town to Choorlalmala. Parking restrictions are also imposed from Kalpetta Janamaithri junction to KSRTC garage junction.
Kerala is hoping that the PM's visit is crucial in declaring the Wayanad landslides a national disaster as well as approving a comprehensive package for the displaced people.
Addressing a press conference, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said PM Modi's visit to Wayanad comes amidst the state government's request to treat the landslides as a 'national or severe disaster'. He further said that following the state's request, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has appointed a nine-member committee to examine the severity of the disaster and submit a report in this regard.
The CM said the state hopes to receive a comprehensive rehabilitation package and, so far, the Central government has been very cooperative and helpful. "Considering the seriousness of the disaster, it is hoped that financial assistance will be available from the Central government to help the families of the disaster victims, and for the rehabilitation and township projects.
"We hope to get a favourable decision from Prime Minister Narendra Modi in this regard. We have already written to him on the issue and thanked him for the help and support provided till now," the CM said.
Over 400 people were killed and several injured in the multiple landslides that hit Wayanad's Meppadi panchayat on July 30.
