Amit Shah Addresses Wayanad Landslide Tragedy in Parliament, Highlights Government's Response and Early Warning Systems

Shri Shah cited successful disaster management examples from other states, such as Odisha and Gujarat, which used early warning systems to minimize casualties.

Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation, Shri Amit Shah, participated in discussions in both Houses of Parliament today regarding the landslide tragedy in Wayanad, Kerala. Expressing condolences to the victims and wishing a speedy recovery to the injured, Shri Shah reaffirmed the Modi government's commitment to supporting Kerala through rescue, relief, and rehabilitation efforts.

Shri Shah emphasized that prior to 2014, India's disaster management was rescue-centric. However, since 2014, the Modi government has adopted a zero-casualty approach, prioritizing early warnings and timely evacuations. He noted that the central government has made every effort in rescue operations and that Prime Minister Narendra Modi is personally monitoring the progress of these efforts.

In the Rajya Sabha, Shri Shah detailed the early warnings issued to Kerala before the disaster. On July 23, seven days before the landslide, the Centre provided an early warning, with subsequent alerts on July 24 and 25. Despite these warnings, he criticized the Kerala government for not acting promptly to evacuate residents from vulnerable areas.

Shri Shah cited successful disaster management examples from other states, such as Odisha and Gujarat, which used early warning systems to minimize casualties. He highlighted that since 2014, the government has invested ₹2,323 crore in early warning systems, positioning India among the top nations for disaster forecasting capabilities.

He detailed the deployment of nine NDRF teams to Kerala on July 23 and additional teams dispatched later. Shri Shah questioned the Kerala government's failure to evacuate people from risk zones and urged states to utilize the 10% of funds from the State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF) for immediate needs without central approval.

The Minister reiterated the Modi government's unwavering support for Kerala and stressed that it is crucial to stand united in this crisis, emphasizing that the government will continue to stand firmly with the people and the state government of Kerala.