Kerala CM says no red alerts sounded for Wayanad ahead of landslides
Not time for blame game, says Kerala CM and said that no red alerts were sounded for Wayanad ahead of landslides responding to Union Home Minister Amit Shah after he said in Lok Sabha today that timely warnings were issued about heavy rainfall in Kerala. 158 bodies have been recovered while 200 persons have sustained injuries after a series of landslides struck the hilly areas near Meppadi in Kerala’s Wayanad district. 191 people are still missing and over 5,500 people were rescued from landslides-hit areas, informed Kerala CM Vijayan.
On July 23, the Union government issued an early warning of rainfall and potential landslides to the Kerala government. Home Minister Amit Shah informed the Rajya Sabha that nine NDRF teams were dispatched on the same day.
Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi will visit landslides-hit Wayanad on Thursday. They were scheduled to meet with the families affected by the tragedy on Wednesday, postponed their visit to Wayanad. “..due to incessant rains and adverse weather conditions we have been informed by authorities that we will not be able to land,” Rahul posted on X.
With the Kerala government declaring a two-day state mourning, Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan urged people to come together to rebuild destroyed livelihoods, similar to what they did after the 2018 floods in the state. Rescue efforts are underway as the army has deployed 200 soldiers from the Defence Security Corps and a medical team to assist with the rescue operations. Additionally, two helicopters from the Air Force Station in Sulur have been dispatched to aid in the efforts. Kerala CM Vijayan said that 45 camps have been set up in Wayanad, with more than 3000 people being rehabilitated.
