NEW DELHI: Union Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Kiran Rijiju told MPs from Kerala that it is not the time to play politics. He directed Union Minister of State George Kurien to go to Kerala. All the forces have left for Kerala. The priority is for the rescue operations. He said that an urgent report has been sought from the Ministry of Home Affairs. The Kerala MPs had earlier demanded that the Wayanad disaster be discussed in the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha. The minister’s reply was after that.

The Prime Minister had promised all help for the rescue operations. He contacted Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan over the phone and inquired about the situation. Ex-gratia of Rs 2 lakh was announced to the families of those dead in the landslide and Rs 50,000 to the injured from the Prime Minister's Relief Fund.

The death toll in Mundakkai is likely to rise further. The bodies floating through Chaliyar reached Nilambur. It is reported that two landslides struck here. The second landslide that occurred around 3 am caused the terrible disaster.