New Delhi (thestates.news)| Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Wednesday criticised the Kerala government for not taking timely preventive action and evacuation despite an early warning given by the central government over possible heavy rain and landslides in Wayanad district, where 174 people have been killed in the natural disaster since Tuesday.
Speaking in Parliament, Shah said, “Early warning was given, and 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.” Shah added the Centre, acting on an early warning on the potential threat of landslides, had promptly sent nine teams of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) to Kerala to manage the crisis.
“Irrespective of the party politics, the Narendra Modi government will stand with the people of Kerala,” he said. “On July 18, it was forecast that Kerala’s western coast would experience above-normal rainfall. On July 25, it was forecast that there would be heavy rain. On July 23 itself, eight teams of the NDRF were sent to the region,” Shah said.
Shah also expressed condolences to the families of the deceased and said that there “should be no politics” on the issue. At least 174 people have been killed, and over 200 were injured after massive landslides hit Wayanad district early on Tuesday. (UNI)
