Tue Nov 19 13:40:37 UTC 2024: ## Wayanad Shut Down in Protest Over Delayed Landslide Relief

**KALPETTA, Kerala, November 19, 2024** – A near-total dawn-to-dusk hartal (shutdown) paralyzed Wayanad district today, as both the ruling Left Democratic Front (LDF) and the opposition United Democratic Front (UDF) protested the alleged delay in receiving central government assistance for landslide rehabilitation.

The hartal, marked by low attendance in government offices and financial institutions and the closure of most businesses and educational establishments, pressed the BJP-led Union government to declare the calamity a national disaster and expedite relief efforts.

The LDF accused the Centre of politically motivated delays, alleging bias against Kerala, while the UDF criticized the state government’s handling of the situation. Protests involved road blockades, leading to traffic disruptions throughout the day. While state-run buses operated with police escorts, and some private vehicles managed to navigate, tensions escalated in Lakdi where UDF workers clashed with police over vehicle blockades. Separate protest marches were held across the district by both fronts.

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