WAYANAD: BJP leader and former Union Minister V Muraleedharan has criticized the state government for not acting on early warnings about the landslides that struck Wayanad on July 30. The landslides, which hit Chooralmala and Mundakkai in Meppadi, claimed over 300 lives and injured many others.
Muraleedharan emphasized that there was a climate alert, and precautionary measures should have been implemented. "The government must investigate who is responsible if the alerts were ignored," he stated. He also noted that while relief efforts are underway, it is crucial to determine any lapses in response.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah defended the Union government's actions, stating in Rajya Sabha that early warnings were issued to Kerala a week before the disaster. Shah claimed that the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) teams were sent in response to these warnings. However, Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan disagreed, asserting that the India Meteorological Department (IMD) had only issued an orange alert, which was insufficient given the extreme rainfall of over 500 millimeters that occurred.
Kerala Health Minister Veena George reported that post-mortem procedures have been completed for 199 bodies, and DNA samples from 130 body parts have been collected. Hospitals, including Manjeri Medical College and Kozhikode Medical College, are on standby to provide care to the injured.
Congress MP Kodikunnil Suresh visited the disaster sites and confirmed that rescue operations are ongoing with a significant response from the Congress party, including visits by Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi.
Kerala Minister AK Saseendran praised the systematic approach to the rescue operations. The Indian Army has been actively involved, rescuing four individuals from the rubble and constructing a Bailey Bridge to facilitate access. Specialized rescue teams, equipped with dog squads and heavy machinery, are working across six zones to ensure thorough search and rescue efforts.
The Indian Air Force is deploying a C-130 aircraft from Hindon air base to Wayanad, equipped with drone systems to aid in locating individuals trapped under the soil. The coordinated rescue efforts by the Army, NDRF, SDRF, and civil administration aim to provide immediate relief and assistance to the affected residents.
Wayanad Updates:
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