Thiruvananthapuram, Aug 4 (IANS) The Kerala government on Tuesday mounted a strong defence of its handling of the ongoing rain-related disasters, with Revenue Minister A.P. Anil Kumar placing the blame for any shortcomings in weather warnings on the India Meteorological Department (IMD).
The minister said the state has no authority to issue independent weather alerts and can only disseminate warnings issued by the Centre’s weather agency.
At least 21 people died, and 7 people continue to be missing, with the worst-affected districts including Pathanamthitta, Idukki, Kottayam and the northern districts.
Anil Kumar said if there had been any lapse in the issuance of weather alerts, it was the responsibility of the IMD.
“The state government cannot issue weather warnings on its own. Our responsibility is limited to notifying the alerts issued by the India Meteorological Department,” he said.
His remarks come amid mounting criticism over the accuracy and timing of weather forecasts following heavy rains, flash floods, and landslides that claimed lives and caused widespread destruction in several districts.
The minister acknowledged that the existing alert mechanism required further improvement to provide more precise and timely forecasts.
Better forecasting, he said, would help both authorities and the public prepare more effectively for extreme weather events.
Defending the government’s disaster management efforts, Anil Kumar rejected allegations of administrative lapses during rescue and relief operations.
He maintained that there had been no failure in coordination among the departments involved in disaster response.
According to the minister, rescue, evacuation, and relief measures were carried out in close coordination with various agencies, ensuring timely intervention in affected areas.
He said any isolated complaints that surfaced during the operations were addressed immediately by the authorities.
The government’s response has come at a time when questions are being raised over the effectiveness of weather alerts after several areas experienced rainfall that residents and local authorities said was far more intense than anticipated.
While the state has defended its disaster response, the minister’s remarks are likely to intensify the debate over the need for more accurate, location-specific and timely weather forecasting as Kerala continues to face increasingly frequent extreme weather events.
–IANS
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