Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan Leads Rescue Efforts in Wayanad Disaster
Thiruvananthapuram (Kerala) [India], July 31: Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan announced that rescue operations in Wayanad, which faced an unprecedented disaster, are continuing at full scale. A total of 1,592 people have been rescued through extensive and coordinated efforts.
Vijayan stated, “Rescue operations in Wayanad are continuing at full scale. This is an unprecedented and painful disaster.” So far, 144 bodies have been recovered, including 79 men and 64 women, with 191 people still missing. Efforts are ongoing to evacuate as many people as possible and provide necessary medical treatment to those rescued.
Responding to Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s claim that the state ignored timely weather warnings, Vijayan said, “Media provides accurate warnings, and weather alerts are always taken seriously in the state. This is not the time for mutual accusations. The facts are clear to everyone.” He explained that an orange alert was in place, and a total of 572 millimeters of rain fell over 48 hours, exceeding warning levels.
Vijayan clarified that no red alert was issued before the disaster, and it was only issued after the landslide occurred. He emphasized that the Central Water Commission did not issue any flood warnings for the Punnappra or Chaliyar Rivers from July 23-29.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah stated in Rajya Sabha, “Early warning was given, that is why on July 23, we sent nine 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.”
Vijayan highlighted that Kerala requested NDRF teams at the start of the monsoon season, which helped avert a larger catastrophe. He stressed the need to combat climate change-induced disasters without placing blame.
The state cabinet has raised the demand for the landslides to be declared a national disaster. Vijayan will visit Wayanad on August 1 for a state-level all-party meeting. Currently, 82 relief camps in Wayanad are accommodating 2,017 individuals, with additional army personnel and helicopters aiding rescue efforts.
“Today, an additional 132 army personnel have arrived to support the rescue efforts. Two helicopters are also being utilized for the rescue operations. Post-mortems were conducted both yesterday and last night. A team of doctors from four cooperative hospitals, including those in Kozhikode and Thalassery, will also arrive to assist,” Vijayan added.
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Kerala -: Kerala is a state in the southern part of India. It is known for its beautiful backwaters, beaches, and rich culture.
Chief Minister -: A Chief Minister is the head of the government in an Indian state. They are responsible for making important decisions and leading the state.
Pinarayi Vijayan -: Pinarayi Vijayan is the current Chief Minister of Kerala. He is a leader who helps make decisions for the state.
Wayanad -: Wayanad is a district in Kerala known for its hills and forests. It is a popular tourist destination.
Union Home Minister -: The Union Home Minister is a high-ranking official in the Indian government responsible for internal security and law and order. Amit Shah is the current Union Home Minister.
weather warnings -: Weather warnings are alerts given by meteorologists to inform people about dangerous weather conditions like heavy rain or storms.
national disaster -: A national disaster is a very serious event that causes a lot of damage and affects many people. Declaring it a national disaster means the whole country will help in the recovery.
landslides -: Landslides happen when a large amount of earth, rocks, and debris slide down a slope, often caused by heavy rain.
relief camps -: Relief camps are temporary places where people affected by disasters can stay and get food, water, and medical help.
army personnel -: Army personnel are soldiers who help in rescue and relief operations during disasters.
helicopters -: Helicopters are flying machines that can take off and land vertically. They are used in rescue operations to reach difficult areas.
