Wayanad landslides: NSS to construct new houses for 150 families, says Kerala Minister Bindu

Thrissur (Kerala): In a relief to 150 families who lost their homes in the landslides in Wayanad, the National Service Scheme (NSS) will volunteer construction of houses for them. This was announced by Kerala Higher Education Department Minister R Bindu.

Speaking to the media here on Friday, Minister Bindu said that this will be one of the largest volunteering activities undertaken by the National Service Scheme, which has earlier set a new paradigm in the service sector by providing 'love homes' to homeless schoolmates.

Two massive landslides hit Wayanad's Chooralmala and Mundakkai on July 30 creating widespread devastation, and loss of lives and property in the region.
She said that the construction of houses will be undertaken in coordination with various cells of the State National Service Scheme.

"NSS units under NSS cells of universities, higher secondary, vocational higher secondary, technical education department, ITI etc., NSS ex programme coordinators and state officers will participate in this charity mission," the Minister said.
She also highlighted the involvement of NSS/NCC cadres in the relief operations on the day of the incident.

"Along with this, NSS will also undertake more long-term relief work in disaster areas. As part of this, NSS will provide expert counselling to the disaster victims to overcome the mental trauma they have experienced. NSS has also designed a 'Back to School, Back to College' campaign to focus on returning students as part of the overall efforts to bring back normal life in the disaster areas," the Minister said.

Meanwhile, Kerala Health Minister Veena George said on Friday that post-mortem procedures of 199 bodies have been conducted so far in Wayanad. In a post on Facebook, Minister George said that additionally, DNA samples of 130 body parts were also taken.

She further said that ICUs are kept ready in hospitals in Wayanad to provide intensive care to those rescued from the disaster areas. Hospitals including Manjeri Medical College and Kozhikode Medical College, which can be reached if airlifted, are also kept on standby.

Meanwhile, the Indian Army during the rescue operations in Wayanad found four persons alive in the rumble including two men and two women earlier in the day. (agencies)