Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan Responds to Amit Shah’s Comments on Wayanad Tragedy
Vijayan Rejects Blame Amid Discrepancies Over Rainfall Warnings and Alerts
BNH BUREAU
Thiruvanathpuram- Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has sharply responded to Union Minister of Home Affairs Amit Shah’s recent statements concerning the Wayanad tragedy, emphasizing that this is not the time for assigning blame.
Reports from the Rajya Sabha reveal that Shah suggested a warning had been issued by the central authorities, which he claimed Kerala did not heed appropriately. However, Vijayan countered these claims by highlighting critical issues with the weather alerts and rainfall data.
In the affected regions, an orange alert was initially in place, with the Central Meteorological Center forecasting rainfall between 115 and 204 mm. Contrary to these estimates, the region experienced a significant downpour, receiving 200 mm of rain in the first 24 hours and 372 mm in the subsequent 24 hours, amounting to a total of 572 mm within just 48 hours. This unprecedented volume of rainfall far exceeded the initial forecast and alert level.
Moreover, Vijayan pointed out that the area had never been subject to a red alert prior to the disaster. The red alert was only issued at 6:00 AM following the onset of the severe conditions. The discrepancies between the forecasted and actual rainfall, coupled with the timing of the red alert, have fueled ongoing debates about the adequacy of the disaster management response.
As recovery efforts continue, Vijayan stresses the need for collaboration and support rather than finger-pointing, urging all parties to focus on addressing the immediate challenges and supporting affected communities.
