Lagatar24 Desk
New Delhi: Kerala Health Minister Veena George has refuted claims by Union Home Minister Amit Shah that the state government was warned in advance with a red alert before the devastating landslides in Wayanad. Responding to Shah’s statement in Parliament, George labeled his remarks as “unfortunate and misleading,” noting that no red alert had been issued.
“We have verified all communications from the Centre, and there was no red alert issued regarding landslides. The district administration acted based on an orange alert, which is a level lower in severity,” George stated in an interview with NDTV. She emphasized that preventive measures were taken based on the orange alert, including evacuating residents from low-lying areas to safer locations.
Amit Shah had claimed that the Kerala government was warned well in advance and that the Centre dispatched nine NDRF teams to the state anticipating heavy rainfall and potential landslides. He also asserted that the state government failed to act timely, leading to significant destruction and loss of life.
Shah mentioned that India has the capability to predict disasters a week in advance and that the casualties could have been reduced if the state had acted sooner. “The Modi government stands firmly with the people of Kerala in this time of crisis,” he added.
Amid the ongoing rescue operations and recovery efforts, Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan is set to hold an all-party meeting in Wayanad today. Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi and Congress General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra will visit the relief camps to assess the situation. Veena George also visited hospitals and relief camps, highlighting the government’s priority to provide psychological support and control the spread of contagious diseases.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecasted more rain for Wayanad and other districts in Kerala in the coming days. A red alert has been sounded for districts including Idukki, Kasaragod, Kannur, Thrissur, Palakkad, Malappuram, and Kozhikode.
As the state continues to grapple with the aftermath of the landslides, the differing accounts from state and central authorities underscore the challenges in disaster management and the need for effective communication and preparedness.
