Wayanad Landslide: Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has responded sharply to Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s recent statements regarding flood warnings issued to the state. Addressing the media in Thiruvananthapuram, Vijayan emphasized the need for climate change mitigation rather than engaging in a blame game.
Kerala Chief Minister Criticizes Amit Shah’s Claims on Flood Warnings
Amit Shah had claimed in the Rajya Sabha that the central government provided early warnings to the Kerala government on July 23, followed by additional warnings on July 24 and 25 about heavy rainfall and the possibility of landslides. Shah also noted that nine National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) teams were deployed to Kerala in anticipation of these events.
Vijayan, however, contested these claims, stating that the central government’s forecast predicted 115-204 mm of rainfall for Wayanad, but the area actually received 572 mm within 48 hours. He noted that only an orange alert was issued on the day of the landslide, with a red alert only following the disaster. Furthermore, he criticized the Central Water Commission for not issuing flood warnings for affected rivers, such as Iruvazhinji Puzha and Chaliyar, between July 23 and 29.
The devastating landslides in Wayanad district have resulted in at least 158 fatalities and over 200 injuries. Vijayan’s remarks highlight ongoing tensions between state and central authorities over the handling of the crisis.
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