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Kerala Governor Arif Mohammad Khan offered condolences on the deaths following massive landslides that struck the Meppadi area in Wayanad in the early hours of July 30.
"My heart goes out to all those families. I have been told that so far our teams have not been able to reach the landslide site due to heavy rain and that the river has changed its course," Governor Khan said while speaking to reporters in Thiruvananthapuram. At least 44 people were killed and around 70 were injured following a series of massive landslides that struck Meppadi in the state's Wayanad in the early hours of July 30. Kerala Minister MB Rajesh said that 250 people have been rescued so far in the affected area and were shifted to temporary shelters. The Minister added that rescue operations have been 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. Congress MP Shashi Tharoor said, "It is a very serious situation. I hope and pray that more lives will not be in peril. We need to get action on the ground as soon as possible." Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi are expected to visit Kerala's Wayanad, where massive landslides claimed 44 lives. CPI leader Annie Raja said that the need of the hour is to announce the tragedy as a national disaster. "Once again, tragedy has struck the people of Wayanad. It happened last night but, in some of the areas, the rescue team has not reached even now, according to reports," she said. Annie Raja said that the government of Kerala is trying its level best to reach out to people and save them. Ministers have already reached Wayanad and they are meeting people in hospitals. She further said that the prime minister has said that he has contacted the Kerala government. He has also announced some financial support for those who died or were injured. Annie Raja said that the need of the hour is to announce it as a national disaster. "The entire rescue, relief and rehabilitation process should be taken care of by the centre. I hope that the central government and the prime minister will take note of the situation and extend all possible help," she added. 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. 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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