“Government of India will leave no stone unturned…”: PM Modi Vows Support for Kerala Landslide Victims, Recalls 1979 Morbi Dam Disaster

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday evoked the “painful” memories of the 1979 Morbi dam disaster in Gujarat after visiting the landslide devastated areas of Wayanad, Kerala. The Prime Minister stated that the landslide in Wayanad were “not normal.” During his visit, the PM Modi vowed to stand the victims and assured all possible help and support to the state for rehabilitation from the Central Government.

"I have seen and experienced a disaster very closely. About 45-47 years ago, there was a dam in Morbi, Gujarat. Heavy rains occurred, and the dam was completely destroyed, leading to water flooding Morbi city. There was 10-12 feet of water in the entire city, and more than 2,500 people died. I stayed there for about six months as a volunteer. I can well understand these circumstances and I assure you that the country and the Government of India will leave no stone unturned,” said Prime Minister Narendra Modi recalling the days of the Morbi dam disaster.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, accompanied by Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, conducted an aerial survey of the landslide-hit areas in Wayanad, viewing the origin of the landslide at Iruvazhinji Puzh and the severely affected areas of Punchirimattam, Mundakkai, and Chooralmala. Following the aerial survey, the Prime Minister, joined by Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, Governor Arif Muhammed Khan, Union Minister Suresh Gopi, State Ministers A Rajan, AK Saseendran, PA Mohammed Riyas, and Kerala ADGP (law and order) MR Ajith Kumar, embarked on a trek to assess the ground situation. During the trek, they traversed a 190-foot Bailey bridge constructed by the army in Chooralmala, witnessing firsthand the devastation caused by the July 30 landslides.

“I have been taking information about the landslide since the time I got to know about the incident. All the agencies of the Central Government who could have helped in the disaster were mobilised immediately. This disaster is not normal. The dreams of thousands of families have been shattered. I have seen the situation on the spot. I met the victims at relief camps who faced this disaster. I also met the injured patients in the hospital,” said the Prime Minister following a meeting to review the rescue and rehabilitation efforts for the victims of the landslide.

During his visit, Modi visited a relief camp in Meppadi and spent time with survivors including children who had lost their family members in the landslide. He also walked through the severely impacted Chooralmala region where he surveyed the extensive damage and interacted with rescue personnel, state officials and local residents.