Kerala Landslides Controversy: Pinarayi Vijayan vs Amit Shah | Analysis

Pinarayi Vijayan Responds to Amit Shah’s Early Warning Claims

Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has sharply criticized Union Home Minister Amit Shah following his statements regarding early warnings about the recent floods and landslides in Kerala. Shah had claimed that the central government issued several warnings to the Kerala government about potential disasters.

On Wednesday, Vijayan responded in Thiruvananthapuram, asserting that the central government’s warnings were insufficient and did not reflect the severity of the situation. “The central government should recognize the significant issues related to climate change,” Vijayan stated. He emphasized that extreme rainfall, unlike anything previously experienced, necessitates robust climate change mitigation efforts.

Amit Shah’s Claims on Early Warnings and Government Response

Amit Shah, during a session in the Rajya Sabha, asserted that the central government had given an early warning on July 23, with additional alerts on July 24 and 25. Shah noted that the Centre had dispatched nine NDRF teams to Kerala, anticipating landslides. He questioned the Kerala government’s response, asking why preventive measures were not taken and why there were casualties if the warnings were issued.

Shah’s statement suggested that the warnings included predictions of heavy rainfall exceeding 20 cm and potential landslides. However, Vijayan countered these claims, noting discrepancies in the rainfall data and the timing of the alerts.

Discrepancies in Rainfall Data and Alert System

Vijayan challenged Shah’s claims by highlighting that the weather warnings predicted 115-204 mm of rainfall for Wayanad, while the actual rainfall amounted to 572 mm within 48 hours. He criticized the central government for issuing only an orange alert on the day of the landslide, with a red alert issued only after the disaster had occurred.

Furthermore, Vijayan pointed out that the Geological Survey of India issued a green alert for July 30 and 31, indicating minor landslides or rock bursts, but by that time, significant rainfall had already caused the landslide.

The Central Water Commission’s Role and Warning System

Vijayan also criticized the Central Water Commission for failing to issue flood warnings for critical areas like Iruvazhinji Puzha and Chaliyar from July 23 to 29. He accused Shah of presenting inconsistent information in Parliament and challenged the accuracy of the central government’s flood warning system.

Impact of the Landslides and Current Situation

The landslides in Wayanad resulted in the tragic loss of at least 158 lives and over 200 injuries. The disaster has highlighted the urgent need for effective disaster management and accurate weather forecasting.

Vijayan concluded by urging the central government to focus on improving climate change adaptation and disaster preparedness rather than engaging in a blame game.

Aakhir Tak Editor-in-Chief

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