Responding to Union Home Minister Amit Shah regarding the early warning statement, Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan at a press conference said ‘This is not the time to blame each other. However, reports from the Rajya Sabha indicate that the Union Home Minister claimed they had issued a warning, and Kerala did not respond appropriately.’
Issuing a statement, Vijayan asserted that prior to the landslide, India Meteorological Department (IMD) had issued only an orange alert for Wayanad. However, the district received over 500 millimeters of rainfall, which was significantly more than the IMD’s forecast.
Furthermore, he also claimed that the area was never on on red alert before the disaster, even though on at 6 am, red alert was issued.
What Happened Between July 23 & July 28?
As per Kerala’s CM, the central Meteorological Department did not give any orange alert for for heavy rain in Kerala between July 23 & July 28.
Talking about the window between July 23 & 28, he said ‘On July 29 at 1 pm, an orange alert was only issued for the Wayanad district. The red alert and the possibility of heavy rain for Wayanad were announced only at 6 am on July 30, after the landslide.’
Later July 29 at around 2 pm, India’s Geological Survey gave a green alert for July 30 and 31, indicating a chance of minor landslides or rock bursts. However at this time, heavy rain & landslide had already happened.
Also Read: Union Minister Amit Shah Makes A Revelation At Rajya Sabha Says ‘Gave An Early Warning…’
He also claimed that between July 23 and July 29, the Central Water Commission, which is responsible for flood warnings, did not issue any alerts for Iruvazhinji Puzha or Chaliyar. Thus asserting that the information given by central government in parliament doesn’t align with the facts.
Kerala CM On NDRF
Addressing the Amit Shah’s NDRF point, he claimed that as per Kerala’s request, the NDRF team was available, at the beginning of monsoon season. But as per him, Kerala has asked for 9 NDRF teams. Already, the government had constituted a team at Wayanad district.
Must Read: Wayanad Landslides: Death Toll Rises To 143; Rahul Gandhi Cancels Their Visit
Currently, the preparations with advance information has already been made in every area of the state.
Who Was Responsible?
Talking about Wayanad disaster, he highlighted the impact of climate change on the environment, saying, ‘We need to take proactive measures to address and adapt to these changes. Can we simply avoid responsibility by claiming it’s not our duty to get involved? The central government should take this issue seriously and implement effective measures to prevent impending disasters.’
Afterward he also said ‘This is not the time for blame. We are dealing with a disaster, and many people are in dire conditions. Our focus should be on rescuing those who can be saved and locating those who are buried. It is crucial to restore the area and rebuild the affected villages. We urge everyone to support Kerala during this critical time.’
(With Inputs From ANI)
