 |
|
The tragic landslides in Wayanad, Kerala, have sparked political debate, with the BJP taking aim at Congress leaders Rahul and Priyanka Gandhi for their delayed visit to the affected area. The brother-sister duo, who represent Wayanad in the Lok Sabha, were initially scheduled to visit the region on August 15th but postponed their trip due to inclement weather. This absence has become a subject of criticism from the BJP, with spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla highlighting the presence of RSS volunteers in the rescue efforts while accusing the Congress leaders of staying away.
The landslides, which struck the state on August 14th, have resulted in over 100 deaths and left many trapped. The incident has also been a focus in the Indian Parliament, where Home Minister Amit Shah claimed that the Narendra Modi government had warned the Kerala government about the potential for a calamity as early as July 23rd. However, the Pinarayi Vijayan-led Kerala government allegedly disregarded these warnings, a claim that has further fueled the political tensions surrounding the tragedy.
Experts have attributed the devastating landslides to a combination of factors, including climate change, the fragile terrain of the region, and the loss of forest cover. The government has announced ex-gratia payments for the families of the deceased and injured, with Prime Minister Modi offering Rs 2 lakh for each deceased person and Rs 50,000 for those injured. Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has also pledged an ex-gratia of Rs 5 lakh for the families of Kannadigas who lost their lives in the tragedy. The Kerala government has declared two days of mourning following the disaster.
Despite the political maneuvering surrounding the Wayanad landslides, the focus remains on the rescue efforts and providing support to the affected population. The IMD has forecast generally cloudy skies with a possibility of rain or thunderstorms in Wayanad, presenting ongoing challenges for the rescue operations. As the nation mourns the loss of life and offers condolences to the affected families, the political debate surrounding the tragedy is likely to continue in the coming days.