Watch: Rahul Gandhi tries out Kerala’s longest zipline to boost tourism after landslides | India News – Times of India

NEW DELHI: Congress leader and Lok Sabha opposition leader Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday posted a video of him attempting Wayanad’s longest zipline as he took a break from his bypoll campaign to promote the scenic beauty of Kerala’s hill district.
Rahul donned an ‘I love Wayanad’ T-shirt and jokingly asked his sister Priyanka Gandhi to join him for the zipline challenge in her sari.
During his visit, Rahul spoke to locals and adventure sports organizers who have seen a decline in tourism since landslides hit the region in July.
In a bid to promote tourism, Rahul said Wayanad is still full of “incredible attractions” despite recent problems due to landslides.

Discussing the impact of the natural disaster, Rahul Gandhi said, “The recent landslide has left tourism hanging by a thread and livelihoods are suffering. From shopkeepers to homestay owners, everyone works hard to keep everything running. When I heard their stories, I felt both deep concern for their struggles and enormous admiration for their resilience.”
Highlighting the attractions in the district, Rahul noted that despite the landslide, locals have worked to create exciting attractions for tourists, including the largest giant swing in South India and a drop tower. He said, “This is more than just politics for me; the people of Wayanad have truly won a place in my heart. Priyanka and I have taken it up as a mission to make Wayanad a top destination in Kerala. Wayanad embodies the best of India.”
Congress General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi also stressed that while the impact of the landslide was limited to certain areas, the perception of risk has deterred many potential visitors. “Whoever I met, a huge effect of the landslide is on tourism, which is not justified in the sense that the landslide only occurred in a very limited area. And as someone said here, Wayanad actually has a huge area with very beautiful natural scenery, and a lot of beautiful things too. I have met homestay owners and they are all deeply affected too. They have not been able to pay their staff for the past three months. So we just want to emphasize that Wayanad is safe. It’s absolutely beautiful.”
Landslides triggered by heavy rains on July 30 caused widespread damage in Wayanad, leading to extensive damage in Punjirimattom, Mundakkai, Chooralmala and Vellarimala villages. The disaster killed hundreds of people across the state and had a significant impact on the local economy.
Rahul, who previously held the Wayand seat, vacated it after retaining the seat he won in Raebareli. The Wayanad bypoll has brought the siblings back to the region, both calling for a renewed focus on tourism.