The extent of devastation caused by landslides in Keralas Wayanad is yet to be known, as rescue teams have not even reached the settlement first struck by the landslides, Governor Arif Mohammed Khan has said as the death count in the calamity crossed the 200 mark.
Speaking to NDTV, the Governor said that the bodies recovered so far are mostly from a village that was devastated as the Chaliyar River changed its course.
The river changed its course because of the landslides and ravaged a village. These bodies have been recovered from that village. But we have not been able to reach the first village which has been ravaged by the landslide, he said.
This village, the Governor said, has been cut off after a bridge leading to it was washed away. The Army engineering unit is trying to build a Bailey bridge (a portable bridge) and this may be completed within a few hours, he said, adding that it is not possible to properly assess the scale of damage till the bridge is built.
It is not possible because we have not been able to reach the first site affected by the landslide, he said.
The Governor stressed that the village struck first by the landslide is not a remote village. It is in a hilly area, but it is not remote. It is part of a town area. It is a 100-year-old settlement.
On being asked about Union Home Minister Amit Shahs claim that the Centre had sent landslide alerts to Kerala days before the calamity struck, the Governor said, Yesterday was not the time to take stock of these things. So I am not in a position to go into that issue. This is the time to share the peoples grief, to meet patients, their relatives.
Shahs remark has sparked a political blame game, with Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan refuting the Home Ministers remark and stressing that the Centres warning came hours after tragedy struck.
Refusing to comment on the same, he said, If the Home Minister is saying warnings were issued, I have no reason to doubt it.
