New Delhi: After a devastating landslide at Mundakki, Chooralmala, Vellarimala village in Kerala’s Wayanad district last month, the central government, led by Prime Minister Modi, immediately sprang into action. More than 1,200 rescuers from the NDRF, Army, Air Force, Navy, Fire Services, Civil Defence, and other agencies were deployed for rescue and relief operations at the site.
Over 100 ambulances, along with doctors and other medical staff, were also deployed to provide medical support.
Centre’s inter-ministerial team in Kerala
Within 71 hours, the Army constructed a 190-foot Bailey bridge in the landslide-hit area, which was crucial in facilitating the movement of heavy machinery and ambulances. Around 200 people, stranded due to the damage of an earlier bridge, were rescued.
NDRF teams have so far rescued approximately 30 people, while 520 were evacuated. The teams were also able to retrieve 112 bodies.
An Inter-Ministerial Central Team (IMCT), constituted by the central government, is visiting the affected areas. They arrived on 8th August and will remain there until 10th August.
Timely and proactive interventions by the Centre to provide relief funds to Kerala
The Modi government has consistently supported Kerala through the timely provision of funds to help the state meet the challenges of disasters.
As of 1st April this year, Kerala’s SDRF account had around Rs 395 crore. The first instalment of the Central share of SDRF for the current year, amounting to over Rs 145.60 crore, was released in advance on 31st July.
In the past five years, the Modi government has released a total of around Rs 1,200 crore as the Centre’s share in the SDRF, out of a total of Rs 1,780 crore.
In addition to this, the Centre has also released a sum of Rs 445 crore for the State Disaster Mitigation Fund over the last five years.