At least 256 people died, and over 200 were injured after massive landslides hit the hilly areas near Meppadi in Kerala’s Wayanad district, according to Health Minister Veena George. The Army has rescued approximately 1,000 people, with 220 still missing, as rescue operations continue into the third day.
Three landslides occurred in Wayanad on Tuesday following heavy rainfall. The worst-affected villages include Mundakkai, Chooralmala, Attamala, and Noolpuzha.
The PMO announced a compensation package of ₹2 lakh for the families of the deceased and ₹50,000 for those injured.
The Prime Minister has announced an ex-gratia of Rs. 2 lakh from PMNRF for the next of kin of each deceased in the landslides in parts of Wayanad. The injured would be given Rs. 50,000. https://t.co/1RSsknTtvo
— PMO India (@PMOIndia) July 30, 2024
However, amidst this tragedy, political figures are trading barbs, with accusations of negligence and evasion of responsibility.
The Chief Minister of Kerala stated that the area affected by the landslide was not previously identified as vulnerable. Rahul Gandhi urged the Central Government to map landslide-prone areas immediately to prevent future tragedies.
Here are some fact-checks:
- Panel Reports (2011 & 2013): Both reports recommended including the affected area in the list of eco-sensitive zones to be regulated by stringent laws. These recommendations were ignored.
- Rejection of Recommendations: The panel report suggestions from 2011 and 2013 were vehemently opposed and never implemented.
- Opposition by State Government: Since 2011, the Congress-led UDF government in Kerala has protested against the panel findings, citing potential negative impacts on business interests.
- UPA Government’s Stance: The UPA government at the Centre, under ministers Jairam Ramesh and later Jayanthi Natarajan, rejected an order to make the 2011 report public for societal benefit.
Current Status
A panel appointed by the NDA government is now examining the issue to finalize a draft notification regarding the eco-sensitive zones.
The situation in Wayanad highlights the urgent need to address environmental concerns and implement recommendations from expert panels to prevent future tragedies.
(This article is based on an X post by Rahul Shivshankar)
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