Pinarayi Vijayan debunks Amit Shah’s claims on early landslide warning in Wayanad

The recent landslides in Wayanad, Kerala, have sparked a heated debate between the Union and Kerala state governments over the adequacy of disaster warnings and response. Union Home Minister Amit Shah has claimed that the central government issued timely warnings about heavy rainfall and landslides to the Kerala government seven days prior to the tragic events, which resulted in significant loss of life and ongoing rescue efforts.

On July 23, Shah asserted, the Union government alerted the Kerala authorities about the impending severe weather conditions. The warning highlighted the risk of heavy rain exceeding 20 cm, potential landslides, and the associated dangers.

Despite these alerts, the Kerala Chief Minister, Pinarayi Vijayan, countered these claims, stating that the actual rainfall far exceeded the warnings provided, and criticized the Union government’s response and the state’s early warning system.

The landslides, which struck in the early hours of July 30, have resulted in the recovery of 161 bodies, with 191 individuals still unaccounted for as of the latest updates. The disaster has prompted the establishment of more than 80 relief camps in the Wayanad district. Shah pointed out that nine teams from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) were dispatched to Kerala on July 23, under his authorization, arguing that adequate steps were taken to manage the crisis.

In response, Vijayan emphasized that while an orange alert had been issued, the rainfall significantly exceeded the forecast, making it clear that the alerts were insufficient.

According to Vijayan, the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) had initially forecasted rainfall between 115 and 204 mm, but the actual precipitation was substantially higher, reaching 572 mm in just 48 hours. Furthermore, the Geological Survey of India and the Central Water Commission had not issued adequate warnings regarding the landslide risk and river flood levels in the lead-up to the disaster.

Vijayan criticized Shah’s claims, labelling them as inconsistent with the facts. He stressed that Kerala’s request for a more effective early warning system and improved weather forecasting capabilities had been ongoing for years. According to Kerala’s Chief Minister, the current systems are outdated and insufficient, especially given the increasingly unpredictable impacts of climate change.

Several MPs from Kerala have argued for a more sophisticated warning infrastructure, including a task force with expertise from various scientific disciplines, and have called for a modern Doppler RADAR system to improve forecasting accuracy. They emphasize that lessons from past disasters, such as Cyclone Ockhi and the 2018 floods, highlight the need for better preparedness and response mechanisms.

Shah, however, defended the Union government’s efforts, asserting that India’s early warning system is among the most advanced globally. He claimed that warnings are issued up to seven days in advance and that various types of warnings, including those for storms, cyclones, and lightning, are accessible to the public.

Shah emphasized that states are expected to act on these warnings, and he highlighted instances where other states, such as Odisha and Gujarat, had effectively managed disasters with minimal casualties due to prompt responses.

In the aftermath of the disaster, there have been calls from various MPs for the Wayanad landslides to be declared a national calamity. This designation would facilitate access to additional financial assistance for both immediate relief and long-term rebuilding efforts.

The Prime Minister has announced compensation of Rs 2 lakh for the families of the deceased and Rs 50,000 for the injured, but many feel this amount is insufficient given the scale of the tragedy. MPs have urged for a special financial assistance package to support the extensive recovery and rebuilding required in the affected region.