Can the Wayanad tragedy be declared a national disaster? look at the facts

Recently, there has been a surge in calls to declare the Wayanad landslide a national disaster. Several opposition leaders, including Congress leader and Wayanad MP Rahul Gandhi, expressed their demands.

On July 30, a landslide occurred in the area, killing at least 226 people and leaving many missing. It is considered one of the largest natural disasters to affect the southern part of the state. Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in Kerala on Saturday to inspect landslide-hit areas in Wayanad district.

Wayanad MP Rahul Gandhi expressed his gratitude to Prime Minister Modi for conducting an assessment of the affected areas.

Can the Wayanad tragedy be called a natural disaster?

However, can a catastrophic landslide be declared a “natural disaster”? According to then Home Minister Mullappally Ramachandran's 2013 Lok Sabha reply, “There is no provision for declaring natural disasters as national disasters.”

Answer: “The Government of India judges the severity of a disaster on a case-by-case basis, taking into account, inter alia, the intensity and scale of the disaster, the level of relief assistance, and the capacity of the state government to respond to the disaster.” Question, Plans for Providing Aid and Relief Available in Alternatives and flexibility, etc.

“The top priority is to provide immediate relief and response assistance in the event of natural disasters. Therefore, there are no fixed standards prescribed. However, for disasters of 'serious nature', the National Disaster Relief Fund (NDRF) will also consider providing additional assistance.

He also said that the relevant state governments bear the primary responsibility for taking necessary rescue measures after natural disasters.

center rescue work

Official sources said that after the landslide tragedy in Wayanad, Kerala, the central government took immediate steps and deployed more than 1,200 personnel from the NDRF, Army, Air Force, Navy, Fire Department and Civil Defense Department. Rescue operations were carried out at the accident site.

More than 100 ambulances along with doctors and other staff were deployed to provide medical support and treatment as Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Wayanad to assess rescue and rehabilitation efforts and meet survivors, they added.

Sources said the Indian Army has constructed a 190-foot-long Bailey Bridge in Wayanad, which is crucial to facilitate the movement of heavy machinery and ambulances.

The bridge was completed in 71 hours, greatly enhancing rescue operations by allowing the mobilization of heavy vehicles and machinery to rescue some 200 people trapped due to bridge damage.

So far, the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) rescue team has rescued 30 people, evacuated 520 people and recovered 112 bodies.

Sources added that the central government has set up an inter-ministerial central team (IMCT) to inspect the affected areas.

Sources said the Center has always extended a helping hand to Kerala to provide timely funds to meet disaster challenges. This year, the Kerala State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) account had about Rs 395 crore as on April 1. 145.6 Crores.

In the past five years, the Modi government has released around Rs 1,200 crore as the Center's share in the SDRF out of the total Rs 1,780 crore in the National Disaster Relief Fund.

Apart from this, the government has also allocated Rs 445 crore to the National Disaster Mitigation Fund in the past five years, they added.