Thiruvananthapuram: Days before the LDF government is scheduled to hand over the first phase of houses to the survivors of the 2024 Wayanad landslides, the Congress Thursday laid the foundation stone for its rehabilitation project that aims to build houses for 100 families.
The first phase of the Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee’s model village project will build 60 houses of 1,041 sq ft each on eight-cent plots in a total of three acres of land.
The foundation-stone laying ceremony, held in Wayanad’s Kalpetta, was inaugurated by Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi, in the presence of Wayanad MP Priyanka Gandhi, AICC general secretary KC Venugopal, and other leaders from the Congress and its allies.
The party also distributed Rs 5-lakh cheques to 40 local shop owners who lost their businesses in the landslide.
According to official numbers, 266 people died and 32 went missing after multiple landslides struck the Mundakkai, Chooralmala, and Attamala villages of Wayanad on 30 July 2024.
Rahul Gandhi, who was then the MP from Wayanad, had announced the housing project during his visit to the constituency soon after the incident.
Also Read: Explained with maps: How topography, human density led to devastation in Kerala’s Wayanad
The political controversy
The ceremony comes after months of political controversy, with the CPI(M) blaming the Congress for the delay in implementing the project, while the principal opposition party accused the state government of procedural delays.
Today’s event assumes significance as the LDF government is set to hand over 178 houses as part of the first phase of its rehabilitation project on March 1. The Model Township project includes a total of 410 houses constructed on seven cents of land each, developed on land that was earlier part of the Elston Estate in Kalpetta.
"In this journey of healing and recovery, you are not alone. You are family, and we will stand with you whenever you need us."
LoP Shri @RahulGandhi, along with Congress General Secretary & Wayanad MP Smt. @priyankagandhi ji, laid the foundation stone for houses to be… pic.twitter.com/YqZCOZSDmB
— Congress (@INCIndia) February 26, 2026
Meanwhile, the beneficiaries of the Congress party’s scheme are those who are not included in the state government’s rehabilitation project.
As per the state government, the beneficiaries of its scheme include legal residents whose houses were destroyed or declared uninhabitable, or properties located in demarcated high-risk zones (within 50 metres of the river in affected areas).
Speaking at the foundation-laying event, Wayanad MP Priyanka Gandhi said MPs from Kerala, across parties, demanded aid from the Centre multiple times. She said Rahul announced the housing project soon after the incident.
“As your sister, it pains me that this process took so long. It took us time because of the clearances we needed, because of land issues and provisions. But finally, I am happy to say that today we are able to start this,” Priyanka said.
Inaugurating the project, Rahul Gandhi lauded the people of Wayanad for their spirit, courage, and compassion during the crisis.
“In this process of recovery, we are with you. For us, it’s not a one-day event. You are our family. We are going to stand with you not once, not twice, but every time. My sister was telling me in the car that she is not happy that this took so long,” Rahul said.
He said he hoped the project would be completed soon. He also expressed gratitude to the UDF constituents for helping make the project happen.
Wayanad and Congress
Situated in northern Kerala, the Wayanad Lok Sabha constituency has been represented by the Gandhi family since 2019 when Rahul won it with a historic margin of over four lakh votes.
He retained the seat in 2024 with a margin of over three lakh votes. But he also won the Rae Bareli seat. He could keep only one, and he chose Rae Bareli, necessitating a byelection in Wayanad.
Priyanka won the by-election, with a margin of 4,10,931 votes. The family has consistently pledged its support and affection for the people during their visits.
Venugopal said both Rahul and Priyanka raised the issue strongly in Parliament, seeking the Central government’s intervention. He said the party also supported the state government in the rehabilitation project, including the Rs 20 crore handed over to the state by the Congress-led Karnataka government.
“We have completed the design and appointed the construction company. We will continue with the construction. It’s not a claim for political gain, but a symbol of the moral support given by the Congress and the UDF for Wayanad,” Venugopal said.
Congress functionaries said the party is using its own funds for the project, but they did not reveal the total cost involved.
(Edited by Ajeet Tiwari)
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