The Bharatiya Janata Party criticised Congress leader and Wayanad MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Sunday for not visiting the constituency after a fatal landslide at a tunnel construction site in Kerala’s Wayanad district. Rescue teams recovered the body of the final missing worker, raising the death toll from the July 7 incident to eight and ending the multi-agency operation. BJP national spokesperson CR Kesavan accused Congress leaders of neglecting the area during the crisis and claimed the constituency served as a political tool for the Gandhi family. In a social media post, Kesavan asked why the MP had not gone to the affected site or met grieving families. He said that beyond a brief online message, no further visible support was provided to victims. Kesavan also mentioned former Wayanad MP Rahul Gandhi, noting complaints from residents about limited engagement during his time in office. Many voters reportedly felt he seldom visited despite holding the parliamentary seat. Kesavan added that Rahul Gandhi later focused on Rae Bareli after the recent elections and accused Congress of viewing Wayanad mainly as a safe seat rather than a place needing ongoing attention. The same approach, he claimed, continues under Priyanka Gandhi. The comments came as teams recovered the last body from debris at the Kalladi site of the Anakkampoyil-Meppadi tunnel project, meant to link Wayanad and Kozhikode. Vikram Rana had been missing for days after rains caused the landslide. Personnel from the National Disaster Response Force, Special Operations Group, Fire and Rescue Services, Rapid Response Teams, Forest Department and local volunteers took part in the five-day search across unstable ground. With the final recovery on Sunday, officials declared the operation complete. The event has prompted debate on safety at infrastructure projects in fragile zones and led to political exchanges between the BJP and Congress on how representatives responded. Congress figures offered condolences to the families. The landslide has also renewed attention on building work in the Western Ghats amid warnings from experts about monsoon risks on steep slopes. As Wayanad grieves eight deaths, questions persist about disaster readiness, project safety and accountability in a vulnerable district.
