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The members of Congress and Communist Party of India Marxist (CPI-M) in Parliament on Tuesday demanded that the massive landslides that claimed 44 lives in Wayanad be declared a national disaster.
CPI-M MP John Brittas sought assistance from the Defence, Home and Finance Ministries. Rajya Sabha Chairman Jagdeep Dhankar expressed concern over the loss of lives in Wayanad landslides. He said that the Central and state governments are taking necessary steps. Speaking in Rajya Sabha, Union Minister JP Nadda said that the central government under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi is working proactively given the tragedy. He said that work was being done in coordination with the state government. "I would like to say this is a tragedy of not just Kerala alone, but the entire nation is concerned. Under the leadership of Prime Minister Modi, the Government of India is working proactively and doing everything necessary for the relief work in Kerala. On behalf of the Government, I assure you that whatever is needed will be done. The PM spoke with the Kerala CM and assured him," Nadda said. Nadda further said that support from central agencies for relief has reached the affected site. "Work is being done in coordination with the State Government. Right now, the primary thing is to recover the bodies and save those who can be saved. We should activate the Emergency Response System. All of that is being done," he said. Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju said that he would request the Home Ministry to make a detailed statement in the House after getting details. He said that MoS George Kurien was sent early morning to Kerala by the Prime Minsiter to take stock of the situation. NDRF, SDRF, CAPF and armed forces have been deployed, he added. Kerala Minister MB Rajesh earlier confirmed the deaths of 44 people in the landslides that hit Wayanad's Meppadi area in the early hours of Tuesday. Minister Rajesh said that 250 people have been rescued so far and were shifted to temporary shelters. He added that rescue operations are undertaken on a war footing. He said that the Chief Minister is closely monitoring the operation and has sent a team of ministers to Wayanad. The landslide has affected Meppadi, Mundakkal Town and Chooralmala areas and the state health minister said that the government has rushed rescue personnel, medical equipment and health workers to Vythiri, Mananthawadi, Kalpetta and Meppadi government hospitals. Kerala Chief Minister's office said that a control room has been established to provide immediate relief and rescue assistance following the landslide at Chooralmala in Wayanad. To aid the Wayanad landslide relief efforts, the Department of Information and Public Relations (PRD), Kerala has opened district and state-level media control rooms. These will operate 24/7 to provide official updates and announcements. The district control room, based at the Wayanad Civil Station, is supervised by Kannur and Kozhikode Deputy Directors and coordinated by Wayanad District Information Officer P Rasheed Babu. The contact number is 0483-2734387. The state-level control room, located at the Secretariat, can be reached at 0471-2327628 or 2518637. (ANI)
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