The family of a Himachal Pradesh engineer killed in the Wayanad tunnel landslide has publicly praised the Congress-led Kerala government for its support while alleging complete neglect by the Congress government in their home state. The remarks come even as the BJP has intensified its attack on Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra over their absence from the landslide-hit constituency, accusing the Congress leadership of abandoning Wayanad during the crisis.

Vikram Rana, 59, a Project Manager with DBL Construction Company, was among those killed in the July 7 landslide at the Kalladi tunnel construction site in Kerala's Wayanad district. His body was recovered after six days of search operations, making him the last person reported missing in the incident.

He was cremated with full rites in his native village of Sarela in Himachal Pradesh's Kangra district on Tuesday.

Family alleges no support from Himachal, praises Kerala

Rana's daughter, Vishakha, said the family first learnt about the incident through social media despite having spoken to him earlier that morning.

"We found out about it on July 7 through social media. We had actually spoken to him at 8.30 that morning, and then we learned about what had happened through social media. The Kerala government provided a lot of support, but the Himachal government offered us absolutely no support, not even 1%. Even our MLAs didn't bother to check on us," she told ANI.

Her remarks are notable as both Kerala and Himachal Pradesh are governed by Congress-led administrations.

Fatehpur Sub-Divisional Magistrate Raman Sharma said the district administration had met the bereaved family and assured them of all assistance available under the state's relief provisions.

"The revenue team and I met with the affected family. The cremation took place here today. The body was recovered yesterday. We will provide whatever relief is possible under our relief manual," Sharma said.

The Kerala government has announced an ex gratia of ₹5 lakh from the Chief Minister's Distress Relief Fund for the families of those who died in the Kalladi Tunnel Phase-3 landslide. Financial assistance of up to ₹2 lakh has also been sanctioned for injured persons, depending on the severity of their injuries.

The state has also constituted an expert committee to investigate the cause of the landslide, including possible violations of contractual conditions and compliance with environmental and forest clearance norms. Tunnel construction will resume only after the committee submits its report.

BJP questions Gandhi siblings' absence from Wayanad

The tragedy has also become the latest flashpoint between the BJP and Congress.

BJP leaders have questioned why Rahul Gandhi, the former MP from Wayanad, and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, the constituency's current MP, have not visited the landslide-hit region.

Addressing a press conference, BJP Rajya Sabha MP and national spokesperson Sudhanshu Trivedi accused Rahul Gandhi of disappearing at a time when Wayanad was facing one of its worst natural disasters in recent years.

He questioned where Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi were when the constituency needed them most, particularly when Kerala has a Congress-supported government. Trivedi alleged that Rahul Gandhi had visited Wayanad after previous disasters for media attention but had remained absent during the current crisis. He also questioned whether the Congress leader was on a foreign trip or elsewhere while people in Kerala were suffering.

Other BJP leaders echoed similar criticism. National spokesperson C.R. Kesavan alleged that Wayanad had become "a political pawn" for the Congress' first family and described Priyanka Gandhi as an "absentee landlord".

BJP spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla alleged that neither Rahul Gandhi nor Priyanka Gandhi had found time to visit the affected area despite the loss of lives and widespread devastation. Tuhin Sinha also criticised the Gandhi siblings, calling them "political tourists" and "part-time politicians".

Congress defends decision against 'VIP visits'

The Congress has rejected the BJP's criticism, arguing that visits by senior political leaders would disrupt relief operations.

Congress media and publicity department chairman Pawan Khera said there was no need for "VIP visits" while rescue and restoration work was under way.

"If there is a natural disaster, why should there be a VIP visit? There should be a VIP visit only to flag the gaps before the government, if it is insensitive in addressing the concerns of victims and their woes. Right now, the government in Kerala is active, relief measures are underway, and there is no need to disrupt those measures," Khera said.

He added that visits by Rahul Gandhi or Priyanka Gandhi would only be warranted if there were failures in the government's response.

The July 7 landslide near the tunnel construction site at Kalladi in Meppadi Grama Panchayat buried a large section of the worksite under an estimated seven to 10 feet of debris. The incident claimed eight lives and displaced several people, with rescue and relief operations continuing in the affected area.