Tue Nov 19 05:40:20 UTC 2024: ## Wayanad Shut Down as Ruling and Opposition Parties Demand National Disaster Status for Landslide
**Wayanad, Kerala, November 19, 2024** – A dawn-to-dusk hartal (general strike) brought Wayanad district to a standstill today, as both the ruling Left Democratic Front (LDF) and the opposition United Democratic Front (UDF) protested the lack of central assistance following a devastating landslide in July. Shops remained largely closed and vehicles were blocked in many areas.
The hartal, called separately by both coalitions, demands that the BJP-led Union government declare the landslide a national disaster. The LDF alleges the delay is politically motivated, claiming the central government holds a grudge against Kerala. The UDF, however, criticizes the state government’s handling of the situation and its failure to secure adequate aid for survivors.
The July 30th landslide severely impacted Punchirimattam, Chooralmala, Mundakkai, and parts of Attamala, causing widespread devastation. While state-run buses operated with police escorts, private vehicles faced significant disruptions. Minor clashes between UDF workers and police were reported in Lakdi. Further protests, including marches, are planned for later in the day.
This action follows a recent letter from the central government to the Kerala state government stating that existing guidelines do not allow for declaring any calamity a “national disaster.” The continued plight of landslide survivors has fueled the political tensions, with both sides united in their demand for urgent federal intervention.
First Piper 