Wayanad: The devastating landslide in Wayanad, Kerala, has claimed the lives of over 150 people, with the death toll continuing to rise. The natural disaster has also resulted in significant property damage, with many houses destroyed and numerous individuals injured. As relief and rescue operations intensify, political tensions have emerged between the central and state governments over the handling of the crisis.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah addressed both houses of Parliament, stating that the Kerala state government had been warned of the impending natural calamity a week before the incident. Shah asserted that nine teams from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) were dispatched to the state on July 23. He implied that the state government’s alleged inaction contributed to the scale of the disaster, suggesting that prompt response could have mitigated the damage.
Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan refuted Shah’s claims, clarifying that the India Meteorological Department (IMD) had issued an orange alert for heavy rainfall in Wayanad before the landslide. However, the district received more than 500 mm of rainfall, exceeding the forecast. Vijayan noted that a red alert, indicating extremely heavy rainfall, was only issued after the landslide occurred on Tuesday morning.
In a press conference held in Thiruvananthapuram, Vijayan emphasized that this is not the time for a “blame game” and stated that he did not view Amit Shah’s remarks negatively. He highlighted the unpredictability of the situation, as the actual rainfall far exceeded expectations. A red alert signifies more than 20 cm of rainfall in 24 hours, while an orange alert indicates very heavy rainfall ranging from 6 cm to 20 cm.
In contrast, Shah had previously claimed in the Rajya Sabha that the Kerala government did not respond adequately to the prior warnings from the central government and failed to alert residents about the arrival of NDRF battalions. He reiterated that the state was notified of the potential disaster nearly a week in advance, with a follow-up warning issued on July 24.
Despite the criticisms, Shah expressed solidarity with the affected people of Wayanad, emphasizing that the central government, led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, is committed to supporting the region. He assured that all necessary measures would be taken for relief, rescue, and rehabilitation efforts.
The ongoing relief operations involve multiple agencies, including the Indian Army, Navy, Air Force, and NDRF, along with the local administration. The situation remains dire, with continued efforts to locate and assist survivors while addressing the extensive damage caused by the landslide.
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