Rahul, Priyanka Gandhi put off visit to landslide-hit Wayanad due to adverse weather
New Delhi, Jul 30: Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi and Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra put off their scheduled Wednesday morning visit to landslide-hit Wayanad after authorities informed them that they would not be able to land due to incessant rain and adverse weather conditions.
The Congress leaders said they would visit the district as soon as possible.
In a post on X, Rahul Gandhi said, "Priyanka and I were scheduled to visit Wayanad tomorrow to meet with families affected by the landslide and take stock of the situation."
"However, due to incessant rains and adverse weather conditions, we have been informed by authorities that we will not be able to land," he added.
In one of the worst natural disasters in Kerala, at least 123 persons were killed and 128 injured in massive landslides triggered by torrential rain in Wayanad on Tuesday.
With hundreds trapped under the debris, sparking fears of mounting fatalities, rescue agencies were racing against time to pull out any survivors.
Assuring the people of Wayanad that they would visit the district as soon as possible, Rahul Gandhi said, "In the meantime, we will continue to monitor the situation closely and provide all necessary assistance."
"Our thoughts are with the people of Wayanad at this difficult time," he said.
In a post on X, Priyanka Gandhi said, "My brothers and sisters in Wayanad, even though we cannot come to Wayanad tomorrow, our hearts are with you at this tragic hour and we are praying for all of you."
Earlier in the day, Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge, Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi condoled the loss of lives and urged United Democratic Front (UDF) workers to provide all help to those affected.
Rahul Gandhi, who represented Wayanad in the 17th Lok Sabha, said he had spoken to Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and the Wayanad district collector, who assured him that rescue operations were underway.
The former Congress chief expressed deep anguish over the loss of lives in the massive landslides near Meppadi.
"My heartfelt condolences go out to the bereaved families who have lost their loved ones. I hope those still trapped are brought to safety soon," he had said on X.
"I have spoken to the Kerala chief minister and the Wayanad district collector who assured me that rescue operations are underway. I have requested them to ensure coordination with all agencies, set up a control room and inform us of any assistance needed for the relief efforts," Rahul Gandhi had said.
The Congress leader had said, "I will speak to the Union ministers and request them to provide all assistance possible to Wayanad."
He urged all UDF workers to assist the administration in the rescue and relief operations.
Priyanka Gandhi had said she was deeply saddened to see the devastation.
"My heartfelt condolences and prayers are with all those who have lost loved ones. I hope and pray that everyone is brought to safety as soon as possible," she had said.
"I urge the government to take immediate action to expedite relief and rescue operations and request UDF workers to step forward to do all they can to be of support and comfort to all those affected by this tragedy," Priyanka Gandhi had said on X.
Speaking in the Lok Sabha later, Rahul Gandhi demanded the Centre extend all possible support for the rescue and rehabilitation of those affected.
Raising the issue during Zero Hour, he also sought enhanced compensation to the next of kin of those killed and restoration of vital transport and communication lines.
Rahul Gandhi won Uttar Pradesh's Rae Bareli and Kerala's Wayanad seat this time but decided to represent Rae Bareli in the Lok Sabha.
Priyanka Gandhi is slated to contest the bypolls in Wayanad whenever they take place.
Priyanka and I were scheduled to visit Wayanad tomorrow to meet with families affected by the landslide and take stock of the situation.
— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) July 30, 2024
However, due to incessant rains and adverse weather conditions we have been informed by authorities that we will not be able to land.
I…
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Two injuries, one DNF, a DQ as India end messy World Relays campaign
Gaborone (Botswana) (PTI): Amoj Jacob and Ragul Kumar got injured during the men's 4x400m and 4x100 races respectively as India ended their World Athletics Relays campaign in disappointment on the second day of competitions here on Sunday.
The Indian camp had high hopes of making the 2027 World Championships in the men's 4x400m relay but the team did not finish (DNF) the race as Jacob suffered cramps and pulled out of the race after taking the baton from the first leg runner Dharamveer Choudhary. Rajesh Ramesh and Vishal TK were to run in the third and fourth legs.
Those teams which could not qualify for the 2027 Beijing World Championships by reaching the final round of each of the six relay events on Saturday were given another chance in the second qualification round on Sunday.
The top two teams in each of the two heats (in all six relay events) booked the Beijing ticket on Sunday.
India will now have to try and qualify for the World Championships through the Top Lists of the World Athletics, which is a long and tedious process.
In the men's 4x100m race, third leg runner Ragul Kumar fell down the track after failing to hand over the baton inside the exchange zone to fourth leg runner Gurindervir Singh, which clearly showed the lack of coordination among the runners.
Harsh Santosh Raut and Animesh Kujur ran the first two legs.
The Indian quartet was disqualified and Kumar was seen being taken away from the Field of Play with the help of the volunteers.
It was a comedy of errors in the case of the women's 4x100m race, which saw the baton being dropped during an exchange between first leg runner Tamanna and second runner Nithya Gandhe, though the Indians finished the race in 53.09 seconds.
Gandhe started running quite a distance, but after realising that the baton was not in her hand, she turned and ran back to pick it up.
The only silver-lining for the Indian contingent was the national record time in the mixed 4x100m relay race, though the quartet of Ragul Kumar, Nithya Gandhe, Animesh Kujur and Sneha SS finished sixth in heat number two with a time of 41.35 seconds, bettering the previous national mark of 42.30 seconds set in March in Chandigarh.
The mixed 4x400m relay quartet of Theerthesh P Shetty, Kumari Saloni, Nihal William and Rashdeep Kaur ended at fifth in heat number one with a time of 3 minutes and 19.40 seconds.
On Saturday, all the five Indian relay teams had failed to make it to the respective final rounds and thus missed out on the 2027 World Championships berths.
