Heavy Rain Caused Major Crisis in Keralam, Government Failed to Take Precautions: Pinarayi Vijayan

Kannur: Opposition Leader Pinarayi Vijayan has alleged that the government failed to take adequate precautionary measures despite warnings of extreme rainfall, leading to severe damage across Keralam. Speaking at a press conference in Kannur, he said 26 people had so far lost their lives in rain-related incidents in the state. He said Keralam must stand united to support people affected by the disaster and assured that the Opposition would extend full cooperation to the government's relief efforts. At the same time, he said several lapses by the government in ensuring public safety could not be ignored. The Cherupuzha and Peravoor regions of Kannur have suffered extensive damage, he said. Pinarayi Vijayan particularly criticised the delay in clearing the road blocked by a landslide at Josegiri in Cherupuzha. Even after a week, authorities had failed to restore the road, which he described as serious negligence. He also alleged that there had been considerable delays in locating people who went missing in the river. Keralam has the experience of the devastating floods of 2018 and 2019, which were described as the worst floods in a century. He said the lessons from those disasters should have prompted authorities to remain more vigilant. He alleged that administrative agencies failed to adequately assess weather warnings and implement preventive measures. According to him, sufficient warnings and preparations were not made when the extreme rainfall began on July 31. The disaster at the tunnel construction site in Wayanad was another example of the alleged administrative failure, he said. Despite forecasts of extremely heavy rainfall, the mandatory red alert was not issued in time and alerts were announced only after the rainfall had already intensified. He also alleged that authorities had received warnings about the possibility of landslides but failed to take adequate preventive measures.