Dharwad: District-in-Charge Minister Santosh Lad has arrived in Wayanad, Kerala, where a devastating landslide has claimed over 200 lives. The minister is overseeing relief efforts and offering all possible assistance from the Karnataka government at the disaster site.

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah dispatched Minister Lad to the location to extend support from the state government. In a press briefing, Lad expressed his shock at the scale of the tragedy, stating, "Despite my involvement in three previous rescue and relief operations, I have never witnessed devastation of this magnitude." He emphasized that the tasks of clearing debris, recovering bodies, and providing aid to survivors would likely extend beyond the next few days, requiring a sustained effort.

Lad reported that post-mortem examinations have been conducted on 160 victims thus far. Among the deceased are two long-term residents from Karnataka who had been living in the Wayanad area for over three decades. Addressing the urgent need for proper storage of the deceased, Lad announced, "The Karnataka government has already provided 10-15 freezers, and we expect to deliver an additional 60 by this evening."

The minister also commended the active participation of numerous volunteers from various Karnataka-based NGOs in the ongoing rescue and relief operations.