'I feel how I felt when my father died': Rahul, Priyanka in landslide-hit Wayanad

Speaking to reporters, Rahul Gandhi said: "I feel how I felt when my father (ex-Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi, assassinated in May 1991) died".

"I remember what I felt when my father died. But here people have not just lost a father... they have lost families... brothers, sisters, mothers, and fathers. I know what I felt (when his father was killed) and this is much worse than that. It is not one person suffering but thousands."

"We owe people here all our respect and affection, and should be standing with them at this time. I am very proud that the whole nation is focused on Wayanad and is helping," he said.

Gandhi also responded firmly to political jabs over the landslides.

"I don't think this is the time or place to discuss political issues. People here need help. I am not interested in politics at this moment. My focus is on the people of Wayanad."

Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, who will make her electoral debut from Wayanad, after her brother surrenders that Lok Sabha seat to retain that of Raebareli in Uttar Pradesh, highlighted more agony.

"We met a boy who was holding on for six hours... trying to save his whole family but could not. He could only save his grandmother. We spent the day meeting people who suffered," she said.

"It is an immense tragedy," Priyanka said, "We can only imagine the kind of pain the people here are suffering. We are only here to give as much comfort and support as we can."

Karnataka, where the Congress is in power, has offered financial and material aid and is allowing unrestricted passage of emergency supplies via the Bandisur border checkpost.

Tamil Nadu, where the Congress is allied with the ruling DMK, has offered Rs. 5 crore aid and manpower in the form of firefighters, doctors, and disaster response personnel.

"Tomorrow, we plan to sit down and chalk out how we can help... especially children who are left on their own now," Priyanka said.