New Delhi: Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Wednesday said the Center had sent multiple advance warnings to the Kerala government about possible floods and landslides in the state, starting July 23, and that nine NDRF teams were rushed to the state on the same day. .
Responding to attention motions in Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha on the Wayanad situation, Shah said that if the Kerala government had paid attention to early warnings or been alerted due to the landing of NDRF teams in the state, it would be They could have saved several lives.
"I do not want to accuse anyone of anything. This is the time to stand firm with the people and the government of Kerala. I wish to assure the House that irrespective of political parties, the Narendra Modi government will stand like a rock alongside the people and the government of Kerala there should be no doubt about it," he said.
Shah's comments came after opposition members in both Houses stressed the need for early warning systems for natural disasters.
"Before 2014, India had a disaster rescue-centric approach, but after 2014, the Modi government is moving forward with a zero-casualty approach," he said.
India is among the four or five countries most capable of forecasting disasters seven days in advance, Shah said, adding that early warning systems are in place for rains, cyclones, heat waves, cold waves, tsunamis, landslides. and even lightning.
"I didn't want to say anything, but the government's early warning systems were questioned. Don't just shout 'please listen to us', read the warnings that have been issued," Shah said.
He said Odisha, where thousands of lives were once lost due to cyclones, had managed to reduce deaths due to natural disasters by acting on early warnings.
The Lok Sabha witnessed some heated moments when BJP member Tejasvi Surya alleged that Rahul Gandhi, who represented Wayanad in the previous Lok Sabha, never raised the issue of landslides in his constituency.
Surya also claimed that despite recommendations from the Kerala disaster management body, illegal encroachments were not removed in Wayanad due to alleged pressure from religious organisations.
Surya's comments sparked protests from Congress members, forcing President Om Birla to briefly suspend the debate.
In an apparent defense of Surya, Shah said that about six years ago, IIT-Delhi experts had suggested relocating people from landslide-affected areas, but his advice was not heeded.
He said all verticals involved in the relief and rescue operations have been deployed, including the Army, Air Force and even a small CISF unit that was posted in the region.
Shah said on July 23, seven days earlier, then again on July 24 and July 25. On July 26 it was reported that there will be heavy rain of more than 20 cm, there is a possibility of a landslide, there could be a mud avalanche and people could even die from being buried under it.
In an apparent attack on Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, Shah said: "But some people do not open Indian sites, only foreign sites, now on foreign (websites) this early warning system will not be shown, they will have to open our sites." .
"I would like to reiterate that an early warning was given and hence we sent nine NDRF teams there on July 23, while three teams were sent there yesterday (July 30)," Shah said.
Responding to the attention motion in Rajya Sabha, Minister of State for Home Affairs Nityanand Rai said that 133 bodies have been recovered so far and the death toll may rise further.
John Brittas, CPI(M), who participated in the debate, termed it as the worst landslide to occur in Kerala, while urging the Center to declare it a "national disaster".
Jebi Mather Hisham (Congress) also demanded that the Wayanad tragedy be declared a national disaster and regretted that there were no early warning systems for such natural calamities. Raghav Chadha (AAP) also called for strengthening early warning systems as part of measures to prepare "for such unfortunate incidents in the future."
Praful Patel (NCP) and M Thambidurai (AIADMK) also supported the call to declare the Wayanad tragedy as a national disaster.
In the Lok Sabha, Opposition Leader Rahul Gandhi urged the government to provide all possible help to the landslide-affected people of Wayanad and look into the "ecological issue" there.
Responding to attention motions in Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha on the Wayanad situation, Shah said that if the Kerala government had paid attention to early warnings or been alerted due to the landing of NDRF teams in the state, it would be They could have saved several lives.
"I do not want to accuse anyone of anything. This is the time to stand firm with the people and the government of Kerala. I wish to assure the House that irrespective of political parties, the Narendra Modi government will stand like a rock alongside the people and the government of Kerala there should be no doubt about it," he said.
Shah's comments came after opposition members in both Houses stressed the need for early warning systems for natural disasters.
"Before 2014, India had a disaster rescue-centric approach, but after 2014, the Modi government is moving forward with a zero-casualty approach," he said.
India is among the four or five countries most capable of forecasting disasters seven days in advance, Shah said, adding that early warning systems are in place for rains, cyclones, heat waves, cold waves, tsunamis, landslides. and even lightning.
"I didn't want to say anything, but the government's early warning systems were questioned. Don't just shout 'please listen to us', read the warnings that have been issued," Shah said.
He said Odisha, where thousands of lives were once lost due to cyclones, had managed to reduce deaths due to natural disasters by acting on early warnings.
The Lok Sabha witnessed some heated moments when BJP member Tejasvi Surya alleged that Rahul Gandhi, who represented Wayanad in the previous Lok Sabha, never raised the issue of landslides in his constituency.
Surya also claimed that despite recommendations from the Kerala disaster management body, illegal encroachments were not removed in Wayanad due to alleged pressure from religious organisations.
Surya's comments sparked protests from Congress members, forcing President Om Birla to briefly suspend the debate.
In an apparent defense of Surya, Shah said that about six years ago, IIT-Delhi experts had suggested relocating people from landslide-affected areas, but his advice was not heeded.
He said all verticals involved in the relief and rescue operations have been deployed, including the Army, Air Force and even a small CISF unit that was posted in the region.
Shah said on July 23, seven days earlier, then again on July 24 and July 25. On July 26 it was reported that there will be heavy rain of more than 20 cm, there is a possibility of a landslide, there could be a mud avalanche and people could even die from being buried under it.
In an apparent attack on Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, Shah said: "But some people do not open Indian sites, only foreign sites, now on foreign (websites) this early warning system will not be shown, they will have to open our sites." .
"I would like to reiterate that an early warning was given and hence we sent nine NDRF teams there on July 23, while three teams were sent there yesterday (July 30)," Shah said.
Responding to the attention motion in Rajya Sabha, Minister of State for Home Affairs Nityanand Rai said that 133 bodies have been recovered so far and the death toll may rise further.
John Brittas, CPI(M), who participated in the debate, termed it as the worst landslide to occur in Kerala, while urging the Center to declare it a "national disaster".
Jebi Mather Hisham (Congress) also demanded that the Wayanad tragedy be declared a national disaster and regretted that there were no early warning systems for such natural calamities. Raghav Chadha (AAP) also called for strengthening early warning systems as part of measures to prepare "for such unfortunate incidents in the future."
Praful Patel (NCP) and M Thambidurai (AIADMK) also supported the call to declare the Wayanad tragedy as a national disaster.
In the Lok Sabha, Opposition Leader Rahul Gandhi urged the government to provide all possible help to the landslide-affected people of Wayanad and look into the "ecological issue" there.
