Published 16:35 IST, August 10th 2020
Idukki landslide: Muraleedharan raises power supply issue, says 'State failed the people'
Minister of State (MoS) for External Affairs V Muraleedharan on Monday claimed that people weren't receiving power supply amid landslide in Idukki
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Raising concerns over the inadequate healthcare facilities, road infrastructure in Kerala, Minister of State (MoS) for External Affairs V Muraleedharan on Monday claimed that people weren't receiving power supply amid landslide in Idukki. Around 43 people have lost their lives after a landslide, triggered by torrential rains, occurred in a residential area in Rajamala of Kerala's Idukki district
Taking to Twitter, Muraleedharan slammed the Kerala Electricity Minister MM Mani stating that Idukki does not have an uninterrupted supply of electricity, and areas hit by landslide did not have power for more than four days.
Idukki, the home district of Kerala’s Electricity Minister, MM Mani does not have uninterrupted supply of electricity. The landslide areas did not have power for more than four days.@narendramodi @AmitShah @JPNadda @surendranbjp @BJP4Keralam
— V Muraleedharan (@VMBJP) August 10, 2020
He added that the state of Kerala failed the poor, innocent, and hardworking people of Idukki.
Earlier after visiting the site of the landslide in Idukki district on Sunday, MoS MEA V Muraleedharan took a dig at the Pinarayi Vijayan-led government in Kerala. Terming it as a very tragic incident, he conveyed his condolences to the kin of the deceased. While acknowledging that Kerala is a developed state, he expressed shock at the "pathetic living conditions" of the plantation workers.
The Idukki landslide
In an unfortunate incident, extreme rainfall led to a landslide at the Nyamakad estate of the Kannan Devan Hills Plantation Company on Friday. As per reports, at least 30 settlements home to nearly 78 people were buried under the debris. The police, a 50-member special fire force along with a National Disaster Response Force unit stationed in Idukki district jointly mounted rescue and relief operations amid inclement weather.
It is perceived that the area's remoteness, broken communication lines, heavy fog, and uninterrupted rainfall are impacting the rescue and relief operations. Moreover, the Idukki district is particularly vulnerable to landslides. The India Meteorological Department had issued a red alert for the Pathanamthitta, Kottayam, Idukki, and Wayanad districts predicting extremely heavy rainfall. Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan announced ex-gratia of Rs. 5 lakh for the kin of those who lost their lives and asserted that the state government would bear the treatment cost of those injured in the landslide.
16:35 IST, August 10th 2020