Congress General Secretary and Wayanad MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra criticised the Central government for approving only Rs 260.56 crore for the reconstruction of landslide-hit areas in Wayanad, far short of the Rs 2,221 crore requested by the Kerala government. She described the allocation as “neglect” and stressed that relief and rehabilitation must rise above political considerations.
Taking to X (formerly Twitter), Priyanka Gandhi Vadra said, “The people of Wayanad faced a devastating tragedy that demanded compassion, fairness, and urgent relief. Kerala requested ₹2,221 crore to rebuild lives after the landslide, but the Central government sanctioned only ₹260 crore — a fraction of what was needed.”
She added, “The people of Wayanad, who lost homes, livelihoods, and loved ones, had hoped for meaningful assistance, especially after the Prime Minister’s visit. What they received instead is neglect. Relief and rehabilitation must rise above politics. Human suffering cannot be treated as a political opportunity. The people of Wayanad deserve nothing less than justice, support, and dignity.”
The allocation, approved on October 1 by a High-Level Committee chaired by Union Home Minister Amit Shah, comes 14 months after the devastating July 30, 2024, landslides in Mundakkai and Chooralmala, which claimed over 200 lives, injured hundreds, and left 32 missing. The approved funds are intended for rebuilding the affected areas.
The sanctioned amount is roughly 11 per cent of the funds requested under the Post-Disaster Needs Assessment (PDNA). The move has drawn criticism, as BJP-ruled Assam, which suffered landslides in 2022, received Rs 1,270.78 crore, while Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh were granted Rs 1,658.17 crore and Rs 2,006.40 crore, respectively.
Kerala had previously received Rs 529.50 crore as a loan for disaster relief operations and an additional Rs 153 crore in July 2025. However, state leaders, including Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and a delegation of UDF MPs led by Priyanka Gandhi, had long demanded a dedicated rehabilitation package for Wayanad.
