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Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has responded strongly to Union Home Minister Amit Shah's assertion that the state government was warned about impending floods and landslides.
Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has responded strongly to Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s assertion that the state government was warned about impending floods and landslides. During a press conference in Thiruvananthapuram, Vijayan emphasized the need for acknowledging the serious implications of climate change, stating, “In the past, did we witness extreme rainfall like what we are seeing now?” He criticized the central government for attempting to shift blame rather than taking responsibility, asserting that this is not the appropriate time for a “blame game” regarding the disaster.
Vijayan’s comments came after Shah claimed in the Rajya Sabha that the India Meteorological Department (IMD) had issued warnings to Kerala on July 23, prior to the devastating landslides. However, Vijayan clarified that while an orange alert was issued for Wayanad, indicating moderate rainfall, a red alert—which signifies extremely heavy rainfall—was only declared after the landslides occurred. He pointed out that Wayanad experienced over 500 millimeters of rain, far exceeding the IMD’s forecasts, and that the red alert was issued too late to prevent the tragedy.
In addition to addressing the warnings, Vijayan provided updates on the ongoing rescue operations, reporting that 1,592 individuals had been rescued and that 82 relief camps were established to assist those affected by the disaster.
