Wayanad landslide tragedy could have been prevented, state government "ignored" alerts: Kerala BJP chief

New Delhi [India], July 31 : Kerala BJP chief K Surendran has said that the huge tragedy in Wayanad caused by landslides could have been prevented and alleged that the Kerala government led by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan "ignored the alerts" sent by the central government.
The death toll due to landslides in Wayanad has gone up to 167, according to the Kerala government.
"The recent landslide tragedy in Wayanad, claiming over 150 lives, could have been prevented. Despite repeated warnings from the Central Government on July 23, 24, 25, and even 26 about severe weather and potential landslides, the Kerala Government led by Pinarayi Vijayan ignored these alerts. Instead of addressing their failures, the Left and Congress are now indulging in political drama in Parliament," Surendran said in a post on X.
"Union Home Minister Amit Shah has rightly highlighted how effective early warning systems in Odisha and Gujarat have saved lives. The State Government and their INDI alliance partner Congress must be held accountable for this disaster. Disaster Prevention is crucial, and political posturing only diverts from real solutions. We stand with the people of Kerala and will do our best to address the situation," he added.
Earlier in the day, Amit Shah said that the Kerala government could have minimized the losses in Wayanad if they had become alert after the Central government's warning about potential landslides and the risk of people's lives.
"Early warning was given, that is why on July 23, we sent 9 teams of NDRF and three more were sent yesterday. Had they become alert the day the NDRF teams landed, a lot could have been saved. But this is the time to stand with the government and the people of Kerala. Irrespective of the party politics, the Narendra Modi government will stand with the people of Kerala."
He also said that the Central government had sent an early warning to the government of Kerala 7 days before the incident, and then on July 24, 25 and July 26.
"I want to clarify something for the country... They kept on talking about early warning. I want to clarify that on July 23, the government of India gave an early warning to the government of Kerala, which was 7 days before the incident, and then on July 24 and 25 too early warning was given. On July 26, a warning was given that there was a chance of heavy rainfall of more than 20 cm, and there were chances of landslides, there could be mudflow and people could lose lives in this. Questions are being raised about the early warning system of the government," Shah said.
However, Kerala Chief Minister refuted Union Home Minister Amit Shah's assertion in Parliament today that the state was warned as early as July 23 about a potential natural calamity in Wayanad due to heavy rains.
"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," the Kerala Chief Minister said in a press conference.
Vijayan stated that the India Meteorological Department (IMD) had only issued an orange alert for the district prior to the landslides. However, Wayanad experienced over 500 millimetres of rainfall, far exceeding the IMD's predictions.
"In the disaster areas, an orange alert was in place, with the Central Meteorological Center warning that rainfall would be between 115 and 204 mm. However, the actual rainfall was much higher. The area received 200 mm of rain in the first 24 hours and 372 mm in the next 24 hours, totaling 572 mm in 48 hours. This far exceeded the initial warning. The area had never been on red alert before the disaster. However, after the incident, a red alert was issued at six o'clock in the morning," Vijayan said.
According to the Chief Minister between July 23 and July 28, the Central Meteorological Department did not issue any orange alerts for heavy rain in Kerala. "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," he said.
On July 29 at 2 pm, the Geological Survey of India issued a green alert for July 30 and 31, indicating a possibility of minor landslides or rock bursts. However, by that time, heavy rain had already occurred, and the landslide had taken place, the Chief Minister said.From July 23 to 29, the Central Water Commission, which is responsible for issuing flood warnings, did not issue any warnings for either Iruvazhinji Puzha or Chaliyar. "The Union Home Minister has presented information in Parliament that is inconsistent with these facts," the Kerala Chief Minister said.
He said based on Kerala's prior request, the NDRF team was made available at the beginning of the rainy season. "Kerala raised the demand for 9 NDRF teams. The government had already deployed a team in Wayanad district. Preparations have been made in all areas with advance information about potential floods and other natural calamities, including landslides," he said.
Stressing that climate change has led to significant alterations in the environment, the Kerala CM said, "We need to take proactive steps to address and adapt to these changes. When faced with these issues, can we avoid responsibility by claiming it's not our duty to get involved? The central government should also consider this issue seriously. As part of addressing climate change, effective measures should be taken to prevent the impending disasters."
"To reiterate, this is not a time for blaming each other. We are currently confronting a disaster, and many people are left in desperate and destitute conditions. Act now to rescue those who can be saved and locate those who are buried. Push hard to restore the area and rebuild the lost village. Keeping everything together is crucial at this critical moment. At this moment, we urge everyone to come forward to support Kerala," the chief minister said.