New Delhi [India], July 31 (HBTV): Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Wednesday said that the Kerala government could have minimized the losses in Wayanad if they had become alert after the Central government's warning about potential landslides and the risk of people's lives. 

He added that irrespective of the party politics, Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government will stand with the people of Kerala.  

As per the Kerala Revenue Department, the death toll in Wayanad landslides has risen to 158.

Speaking in the Rajya Sabha Union Home Minister Shah said, "Early warning was given, that is why on July 23, we sent 9 teams of NDRF and three more were sent yesterday. Had they become alert the day the NDRF teams landed, a lot could have been saved. But this is the time to stand with the government and the people of Kerala. Irrespective of the party politics, the Narendra Modi government will stand with the people of Kerala." 

He also said that the Central government had sent an early warning to the government of Kerala 7 days before the incident, and then on July 24, 25 and July 26. 

"I want to clarify something for the country... They kept on talking about early warning. I want to clarify that on July 23, the government of India gave an early warning to the government of Kerala, which was 7 days before the incident, and then on July 24 and 25 too early warning was given. On July 26, a warning was given that there was a chance of heavy rainfall of more than 20 cm, and there were chances of landslides, there could be mudflow and people could lose lives in this. Questions are being raised about the early warning system of the government," Shah said. 

"The government has spent INR 2000 crore after 2014 for the early warning system," Shah added.

He questioned the Kerala government, "Under this early warning system, on July 23, at my direction, 9 NDRF teams were sent to Kerala considering that there could be landslides... What did the Kerala government do? Were the people shifted? And if they were shifted then how did they die?" Shah said. 

"The project of early warning started in 2016 and by 2023, India had the most modern early warning system... There are only 4 countries to predict 7 days in advance and India is one among them," Shah said.  

Meanwhile, Search and rescue operations continue at landslide-affected Chooralmala in Wayanad. At the moment, 1200 rescue workers from the Indian Army, DSC centre, Territorial Army, NDRF, Indian Navy and the IAF are deployed here.  

(ANI)