Priyanka Gandhi Visits Kalladi Debris Slip Site After Tragic Landslide

On Saturday, July 25, Wayanad MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra stepped into the scene of the Kalladi debris slip that claimed eight lives and left nine more injured earlier this month. The site, tucked near Meppadi along the Wayanad tunnel road project, bore fresh scars from the July 7 landslide that rocked the community.

Accompanied by district officials, elected representatives and senior executives from Dilip Buildcon – the contractor handling the tunnel works – Gandhi inspected the damage. She listened attentively as locals recounted the night the earth gave way, and she asked pointed questions about safety measures and future prevention.

Among those who approached her was Ashraf Pulikkalakkath, a resident whose house was reduced to rubble. With his wife and children by his side, he explained the anguish of losing a home in an instant. Gandhi assured the family that the government would do everything possible to provide relief, shelter and financial aid.

The Congress leader then made her way to WIMS Hospital in Meppadi, where several of the injured were receiving treatment. She met Rajneesh and Suraj Yadav, migrant workers from Madhya Pradesh, and spoke with the relatives of Dileep, a laborer still fighting for his life in the intensive care unit. Gandhi discussed medical needs with doctors, emphasizing that timely care was crucial for recovery.

Later, at a modest felicitation ceremony held in Krishna Gowder Hall, Puliyarmala, organized by the district administration, Gandhi praised the tireless efforts of rescue squads, volunteers and ordinary citizens. “Whenever Wayanad faces a natural disaster, its people come together, forgetting differences of state, religion or gender,” she said, noting that the helpers acted purely out of humanity.

Her visit underscored a broader political message as well – the Congress party’s commitment to the region’s safety and its demand for stricter oversight of ongoing construction projects. While she lauded the prompt response, Gandhi urged authorities to reassess the tunnel road’s engineering safeguards to avoid another tragedy.

As the community begins the slow process of rebuilding, the MP’s presence offered a moment of solidarity, reminding the people of Kalladi that they are not alone in their grief and that relief measures are on the way.