Kerala CM calls for improved disaster forecasts amid Wayanad tragedy

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, KERALA: In the wake of the unprecedented devastation caused by the Wayanad landslides, Chief Minister of Kerala, Pinarayi Vijayan stated that despite significant advancements in scientific knowledge and discovery, India still faces challenges in effectively predicting natural disasters to protect lives and property.

These remarks were made during the Chief Minister’s Independence Day speech in Thiruvananthapuram. The centre and the state had been at odds over the adequacy of the calamity warnings provided beforehand.

He emphasised that the country lacks a reliable system for delivering precise warnings about natural calamities, even in the 21st century. Global experience indicates that accurate forecasts, rather than vague warnings, are essential for preventing disasters.

Vijayan expressed concern over the lack of scientific awareness, which he believes is leading to a resurgence of superstitions, harmful customs, and outdated practices. He warned that as India advances in areas such as literacy, education, health, manufacturing, and industry, there are forces attempting to pull the nation back by using caste and communalism to sow division. This trend, he argued, threatens secularism and national unity, and he called for a comprehensive approach to development that ensures equal resource distribution to all regions and communities. He cautioned that regional imbalances could undermine the democratic fabric of India.