BJP Leader V Muraleedharan Discusses Wayanad Landslides

The recent Wayanad landslide incident has resulted in 75 bodies being handed over to relatives. V Muraleedharan, a BJP leader, spoke to ANI about the incidents, citing Home Minister Amit Shah’s assurance in the Rajya Sabha that the Prime Minister’s government stands with the people of Kerala. Shah also mentioned that the Kerala government didn’t act on warnings from the Ministry of Home Affairs regarding potential landslides from July 23 to 26. He highlighted the Kerala disaster management authority’s prior warning about an impending tragedy and urged the state government to act on the advice to relocate 4,000 families.

Mr. Muraleedharan criticized the state government for not heeding warnings about the landslide-prone area and pointed out the presence of over 300 illegal construction projects in an ecologically sensitive area. The disaster has sparked a political dispute, with Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan refuting Shah’s claims and emphasizing that the India Meteorological Department’s orange alert for the district did not accurately predict the heavy rainfall that caused the landslides. Following the landslides in Mundakkai and Chooralmala, rescue efforts are ongoing, with 167 confirmed deaths and 96 victims identified. Post-mortem examinations have been carried out on 166 bodies, and 75 bodies have been handed over to relatives.

The Indian Army is intensifying its rescue efforts, setting up a “Command and Control Centre” to coordinate disaster relief. The devastating landslides have resulted in extensive destruction, with houses and roads damaged, trees uprooted, and water bodies swelling. Rescue operations are challenging due to the hindered access caused by the landslides. Currently, 219 individuals have been brought to hospitals, with 73 in Wayanad and five in Malappuram.

Seventy-eight individuals are still receiving treatment, and 142 have been moved to relief camps. Financial aid is being mobilized for the region as political leaders engage in discussions to address the aftermath of the disaster.