Wayanad landslide: South film actors announce donations to Kerala CM Relief Fund

Telugu superstars Chiranjeevi, Ram Charan and Allu Arjun are the latest film personalities to make a donation to the Chief Minister's Distress Relief Fund (CMDRF) for rehabilitation efforts in the landslide-hit Wayanad district in Kerala.

The death toll from the catastrophic landslide, which hit the district in the early hours of July 30, has risen to 219, according to the state government.

In a post on X, Chiranjeevi on Aug 4 expressed anguish over the loss of life due to the landslides in Kerala, adding he and his son-"RRR" star Ram Charan were donating ₹1 crore to the CMDRF.

"Deeply distressed by the devastation and loss of hundreds of precious lives in Kerala due to nature’s fury in the last few days. My heart goes out to the victims of the Wayanad tragedy.

"Charan and I together are contributing ₹1 crore to the Kerala CM Relief Fund as a token of our support to the victims. My prayers for the recovery of all those in pain!" the Padma Bhushan recipient wrote.

Earlier in the day, Allu Arjun said he wanted to do his bit for the state which has always given him a lot of love.

"I am deeply saddened by the recent landslide in Wayanad. Kerala has always given me so much love, and I want to do my bit by donating ₹25 lakh to the Kerala CM Relief Fund to support the rehabilitation work. Praying for your safety and strength. @CMOKerala," the "Pushpa: The Rise" star wrote on X.

On Aug 3, Malayalam cinema veteran Mohanlal, who is also a Lieutenant Colonel in the Indian Territorial Army, reached Wayanad in his Army uniform and pledged ₹3 crore for the rehabilitation works of the disaster-struck region.

"The devastation in Wayanad is a deep wound that will take time to heal. Every home lost and life disrupted is a personal tragedy," he wrote alongside a series of pictures from the ground on X.

The actor, who reached the Army camp at Meppadi, also held a brief discussion with the officers and left for the landslide-hit zone along with others.

Previously, Tamil actors Kamal Haasan, Suriya, Jyotika, Karthi, Vikram, Nayanthara and Vignesh Sivan, and other Malayalam stars Mammootty, Dulquer Salmaan, Fahadh Faasil, Nazriya, and Tovino Thomas also donated to the Chief Minister's Distress Relief Fund (CMDRF).

While Haasan donated ₹25 lakh, Jyotika, Suriya, and Karthi together donated ₹50 lakh. Mammootty donated ₹20 lakh, Dulquer gave ₹15 lakh and Tovino contributed ₹25 lakh. Fahadh and Nazriya donated ₹25 lakh.

Noted filmmaker Anand Patwardhan donated ₹2.2 lakh which he bagged as prize money in the recently concluded 16th International Documentary and Short Film Festival of Kerala (IDSFFK).

(PTI)