Kerala Minister Veena George speaks to NDTV

New Delhi:

The minister stated that the Wayanad district administration had implemented precautionary measures based on the orange alert, including relocating many residents to safer areas.

Amit Shah In Parliament 

Mr Shah alleged yesterday that the Centre had issued early notifications to the Kerala government as early as July 23. He asserted that the Centre had dispatched nine National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) teams to Kerala in anticipation of heavy rainfall and potential landslides. “The Kerala government was alerted a week in advance, but they failed to evacuate people in time, resulting in the tragic loss of lives,” Mr Shah stated.

The Home Minister further mentioned that India is among the few nations capable of forecasting natural disasters seven days in advance. He contended that if the Kerala government had acted on the early notifications and the deployment of NDRF teams, the casualties could have been significantly reduced. “The Modi government stands resolutely with the people of Kerala in this time of crisis,” Mr Shah reassured.

Centre’s Response 

Union Minister George Kurian, who visited Wayanad on the night of the disaster, reiterated the Centre’s dedication to supporting Kerala. He expressed that Prime Minister Narendra Modi was closely monitoring the situation and had directed immediate assistance and resources to the affected areas. “Both control rooms of the Ministry of Home Affairs are operational 24/7, ensuring all possible support is extended to the state,” Mr Kurian mentioned.

The Indian Army and Air Force are actively involved in rescue operations. Two columns of army personnel and two Indian Air Force helicopters have been deployed, alongside NDRF, State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), and specialized dog squads to assist in the search and rescue efforts.

Political Reactions

Parliament proceedings witnessed intense exchanges, with opposition members emphasizing the necessity for robust early warning systems. Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, representing Wayanad, urged the government to provide all possible assistance to the affected people and address the ecological concerns contributing to such disasters. Mr Gandhi and his sister Priyanka Gandhi Vadra are anticipated to visit the relief camps established in the district today. 

BJP member Tejasvi Surya criticized Gandhi, alleging that he never raised the issue of landslides in his constituency. He also claimed that illegal encroachments in Wayanad, overlooked due to pressure from religious organizations, worsened the disaster. These comments resulted in protests from Congress members, leading to a brief adjournment of the proceedings.

Experts from various fields have called for a reassessment of disaster management protocols. John Brittas of CPI(M) termed the Wayanad landslides as the worst in Kerala’s history and urged the Centre to declare it a national disaster.