Centre declares Wayanad landslides 'severe nature' disaster, announces aid process
Thiruvananthapuram (PTI): Five months after devastating landslides destroyed three villages in Wayanad, the Union Government has declared it a disaster of "severe nature," recognising its intensity and impact for all practical purposes, an official source said on Monday.
In a communication to the Kerala government, the Union Home Ministry explained that financial aid for such severe disasters is initially provided by the State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF), which is then supplemented by the National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF) based on assessments conducted by an Inter-Ministerial Central Team (IMCT).
"However, keeping in view the intensity and magnitude of the Meppadi landslide disaster in Wayanad district, it has been considered by the IMCT as a disaster of severe nature for all practical purposes," the communication said.
The Centre's decision came amidst criticism from the state government and protests by MPs in Parliament for "not providing financial assistance to those affected by the landslides in Wayanad".
On July 30, massive landslides occurred in the Chooralmala and Mundakkai regions of Wayanad, triggered by torrential rains, resulting in over 200 deaths, numerous injuries, and thousands left homeless. It is considered one of the worst natural disasters in Kerala's history.
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Cong asks govt to take Parliament into confidence on US, EU trade deals
New Delhi (PTI): The Congress on Tuesday demanded that the Modi government should take Parliament into confidence and the text of both the EU and US trade deals must be laid on the table of both Houses and debated.
Congress general secretary in-charge communications Jairam Ramesh said that from the information President Donald Trump has provided, it is abundantly clear that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has "completely surrendered".
He said that almost exactly a year ago, Prime Minister Modi landed at the White House to greet President Trump on his re-election.
"His trademark huglomacy was on full display. India-US relations never appeared brighter. Negotiations for a trade deal started immediately thereafter.But ever since President Trump made the first announcement of the halt to Operation Sindoor on the evening of May 10, 2025 things began to go downhill," Ramesh said on X.
Subsequently, President Trump embraced Pakistan and Field Marshall Asim Munir enthusiastically, "exposing the hollowness of Mr. Modi's huglomacy", he said.
Ramesh pointed out that President Trump announced the trade deal very late last night Indian time.
"From the information President Trump has provided, it is abundantly clear that Prime Minister Modi has - like he did on May 10, 2025 - completely surrendered. He has most definitely appeased President Trump. India stands diminished by this unfortunate sequence of events," he claimed.
Pointing out that Parliament is in session, Ramesh said the text of both the EU and US trade deals must be laid on the table of both Houses and debated, "especially since the US Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins has issued a statement claiming that India has liberalised agricultural imports from the US".
Reacting to President Trump's announcement that the US and India have agreed to a trade deal, Ramesh had said Monday night that it appears the prime minister has "capitulated finally" and that this "cannot be the father of all deals".
He had said "clearly Mogambo Khush Hai", a play on a popular dialogue from the 1987 Hindi movie "Mr India".
In a post on X, the Congress hit out at the government and said India has the right to know details of the trade deal.
"Just like the ceasefire, the announcement of the trade deal was also made by US President Trump. It has been stated that the trade deal is being done 'on Modi's request'," the party said.
"Trump says that India will move to reduce tariff and non tariff barriers against the United States to 'zero'. It seems India has agreed to completely open our market for America. This will impact Indian industry, traders and farmers," it said.
There is talk of opening the agriculture sector for America in the statement as well, the Congress said and asked what exactly is the deal.
How has the security and interests of our farmers been ensured, the party further asked.
It has also been said that the Modi government will not buy oil from Russia, but will buy from America and Venezuela instead, the Congress pointed out and asked whether the Modi government agreed to this condition.
"In addition, there is talk of buying more goods from America. If that's the case, then what happened to 'Make in India'?" the party said.
"The Modi government must take the Parliament and the entire country into confidence and share all the details," he added.
Trump on Monday said India and the US agreed to a trade deal under which Washington will bring down the reciprocal tariff on Indian goods to 18 per cent from the current 25 per cent, Trump said on Monday after a phone conversation with PM Modi.
On his part, PM Modi said he was delighted that "made in India products will now have a reduced tariff of 18 per cent".
This came after India and the European Union, on January 27, sealed a landmark free trade agreement -- billed as the "mother of all deals" -- to create a market of two billion people, with PM Modi and the top EU leadership unveiling a transformative five-year agenda to largely leverage trade and defence in protecting the rules-based world order.
