Amit Shah Criticizes Kerala Government Over Wayanad Landslide Response

Union Home Minister Amit Shah criticized the Kerala government for not acting on early warnings about potential landslides in Wayanad, which could have minimized the loss of 158 lives. He emphasized that the Central government had sent multiple warnings and deployed NDRF teams in advance. Despite the warnings, the Kerala government failed to take timely action.

Speaking in the Rajya Sabha, Shah said, “Early warning was given, that is why on July 23, we sent 9 teams of NDRF and three more were sent yesterday. Had they become alert the day the NDRF teams landed, a lot could have been saved. But this is the time to stand with the government and the people of Kerala. Irrespective of the party politics, the Narendra Modi government will stand with the people of Kerala.”

Shah also mentioned that the Central government had sent an early warning to the government of Kerala 7 days before the incident, and then on July 24, 25, and July 26. He questioned the Kerala government, “Under this early warning system, on July 23, at my direction, 9 NDRF teams were sent to Kerala considering that there could be landslides… What did the Kerala government do? Were the people shifted? And if they were shifted then how did they die?”

Meanwhile, search and rescue operations continue at landslide-affected Chooralmala in Wayanad. At the moment, 1200 rescue workers from the Indian Army, DSC centre, Territorial Army, NDRF, Indian Navy, and the IAF are deployed here. The Commandant of the Para Regimental Training Centre, Brigadier Arjun Seagan, said that 500 to 600 personnel from the NDRF, army, state police, forest officials, and volunteers have been carrying out the rescue operations on Wednesday.

Earlier today, the Indian Army ramped up its rescue operations and successfully evacuated more than 1,000 people from affected areas to safety. The Army’s Southern Command said that up to 1,000 personnel have been rescued so far using man-made bridges and human effort. Despite adverse climatic conditions and poor visibility, Indian Air Force Helicopters also conducted search and rescue operations in Wayanad rescuing stranded people from a narrow strip of land.

At least two massive landslides struck Kerala’s Wayanad on Tuesday morning, causing widespread destruction. The first occurred in Mundakkai, a town, and the second in Chooralmala. The massive landslides wreaked havoc in the region, damaging houses and roads, uprooting trees, and swelling water bodies, which hindered rescue operations. Relief and rescue efforts are currently underway. The first landslide occurred at 2 am on July 30, followed by another at 4:10 am, causing immense damage to homes and livelihoods. Many areas, including Meppadi, Mundakkai, and Chooralmala, have been isolated, and roads have been washed away. The Vellarmala GVH School was completely buried.