Wayanad, July 30 (IANS) Grief returned to Puthumala’s ‘Hridayabhoomi’ on Thursday as hundreds of survivors, bereaved families, public representatives and officials gathered to mark the second anniversary of the devastating Mundakkai-Chooralmala landslides in Kerala’s Wayanad, paying tribute to those who perished in one of the state’s worst natural disasters.
The memorial, held at the resting place of many of the victims, was marked by floral tributes, an all-faith prayer, and an emotional remembrance ceremony organised by the Meppadi Grama Panchayat and the district administration.
Revenue Minister A.P. Anil Kumar and Agriculture Minister T. Siddique led the state’s homage, while relatives, friends and schoolchildren carrying flowers stood in silent remembrance of lives cut short by the tragedy.
For many, it was a return to the soil where loved ones were laid to rest after the landslides that wiped out entire families and settlements overnight.
Clergy representing Christian, Hindu, and Muslim faiths jointly led prayers, underscoring the unity that emerged in the aftermath of the disaster.
Addressing the gathering, Revenue Minister Anil Kumar assured survivors that the government remained committed to completing every rehabilitation promise.
He announced that 130 houses in the rehabilitation township would be completed by the end of October, with the remaining homes and supporting infrastructure to be ready by December.
The Minister also said the process of disbursing Rs 2 lakh to each eligible family would be completed shortly.
As part of the rehabilitation package, the government has already taken over Rs 6 crore worth of bank loans of disaster-hit families in the first phase, with the remaining eligible loans to be cleared after verification.
Compensation for those who lost commercial establishments and buildings is also being processed, while complaints regarding exclusion from the rehabilitation beneficiary list will be re-examined.
Emphasising the need to prevent similar tragedies, Anil Kumar announced a comprehensive scientific study to identify the causes behind the recurring natural disasters in the Meppadi region and recommend long-term mitigation measures.
Agriculture Minister Siddique said a Doppler weather radar to be installed at Pazhassi Raja College, Pulpally, would significantly strengthen weather monitoring and early warning systems in Wayanad.
He added that vulnerable populations would be scientifically mapped for timely evacuation during extreme weather events.
Two years after the catastrophe, the tears have not dried.
But amid the prayers and memories, the state renewed its pledge that the lives lost would not be forgotten, and that rebuilding the lives of those left behind would remain an unfinished but unwavering commitment.
–IANS
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