THIRUVANANTHAPURAM (Kerala): Senior Congress leader AK Antony on Wednesday contributed Rs 50,000 to the Chief Minister Disaster Relief Fund for the victims of the Wayanad landslides, which claimed more than 300 lives.
“All well-being people of Kerala, and outside the state, I appeal to them to kindly contribute maximum to the Kerala Chief Minister’s relief fund. In my own humble way, today I am contributing 50,000 rupees to the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund. This is not the time to quarrel. Let us cooperate now. No controversy; the Centre should come to with a package to help Kerala,” Antony told ANI.
He further said that the central government should come up with a package to help Kerala. “I appeal to the central government to extend maximum financial and other support to those people who are suffering now,” he added.
Meanwhile, a special team consisting of six trained Army personnel, four SOGs (Special Operation Groups) of Kerala Police, two Forest Officers and a dog squad left for the Sunrise Valley of Soojippara waterfalls in Wayanad to carry out a search operation.
“In continuation of yesterday’s. operation, today we are also sending a team. We are including a cadaver dog and its handler. It is a 13-member team. We want to go some more downstream. Yesterday, 4 kilometres were covered. Today, we are trying to cover some more areas. We will maximum try to cover downstream,” Taposh Basumatary, Superintendent of police, SOG, told ANI.
On Tuesday, Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said that the government will ensure world-class rehabilitation in the landslide-hit areas of the Wayanad district, which will serve as an example.
Addressing a press conference, Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said, “We will ensure world-class rehabilitation. Our goal is to implement a resettlement model that can serve as an example for the nation and the world. The Kerala CM further highlighted that government employees and teachers have come forward to contribute at least 5 per cent of their salary to the disaster relief fund.
Highlighting the total funds in the CMDRF, Vijayan stated, “From July 30 until Monday, we have received Rs 53.98 crores in the disaster relief fund.”
Wayanad’s Chooralmala and Mundakkai were hit by massive landslides on July 30, claiming over 300 lives and creating widespread property damage. (ANI)