The death toll from the Wayanad landslide rose to eight on Sunday after rescue teams recovered the last missing body, as the BJP accused Wayanad MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra of failing to visit the disaster site or meet affected families.
BJP national spokesperson CR Kesavan claimed the Congress leader had offered only a “token tweet” in response to the July 7 tragedy at the Anakkampoyil-Meppadi twin-tube tunnel project in Kerala’s Wayanad district.
BJP Alleges Neglect by Congress Leadership
Kesavan stated that Wayanad had become a “political pawn” for the Congress first family, citing Priyanka Gandhi’s absence and a lack of direct support for victims. He drew parallels with former Wayanad MP Rahul Gandhi, alleging that local residents had frequently criticized his limited engagement with the constituency.
The BJP leader also claimed Rahul Gandhi had “hoodwinked” Wayanad voters by later contesting from Rae Bareli, suggesting a pattern of disengagement under the party’s representation.
Rescue Operations Conclude After Five Days
Search efforts intensified on Sunday to locate Vikram Rana, the final missing person, before authorities recovered his body. The operation involved multiple agencies, including the NDRF, SOG, Fire and Rescue Services, and volunteer groups.
With the recovery of the last victim, rescue operations at the Kalladi landslide site were officially concluded. The disaster occurred during construction of the Anakkampoyil-Meppadi tunnel, a key infrastructure project linking Wayanad and Kozhikode districts.
