Congress Leader Alleges Kerala 2018 Floods Were Man-Made Disaster
Senior Congress leader Ramesh Chennithala has made a significant allegation, stating that the devastating 2018 Kerala floods were a man-made disaster. He asserted that he was the first to raise this claim, and recent findings submitted by an amicus curiae appointed by the high court support his position.
Chennithala Blames Administrative Failures Under Pinarayi Vijayan
Chennithala squarely blamed Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan for what he termed as severe administrative failures. According to the Congress leader, the report points to serious lapses that contributed to the scale of the flooding, which caused widespread destruction across the state.
He has consistently flagged this issue in the assembly since the disaster occurred, emphasizing that accountability remains a critical concern. Chennithala questioned the decision to release water simultaneously from multiple dams, arguing that such actions inevitably worsened the situation and led to large-scale inundation.
Allegations of Ignored Warnings and Protocol Violations
Chennithala contended that, despite the existence of flood control mechanisms, authorities failed to follow established protocols and take timely precautionary measures. He referred to a study by the Indian Institute of Science, whose findings highlighted shortcomings in dam management. He claimed these findings were dismissed by the government and its supporters when raised by the opposition.
Drawing parallels with the handling of Cyclone Ockhi in 2017, he alleged that delays in issuing timely warnings aggravated the impact of that disaster as well. Chennithala stated that it was only after sustained protests by the opposition that authorities began improving early warning systems.
Fresh Concerns and Calls for Investigation
Chennithala also referred to an alleged audio clip involving Power Minister K Krishnankutty, suggesting it raises fresh concerns that the floods may have been exacerbated to benefit a private entity. He termed this development as 'shocking' and called for greater scrutiny into the matter.
Highlighting the magnitude of the 2018 tragedy, he alleged that the losses were a direct consequence of governance failures under the then Left administration. Chennithala declared that if the United Democratic Front (UDF) returns to power, it would initiate a comprehensive investigation into the circumstances surrounding the floods.
The Congress leader's statements underscore ongoing political tensions in Kerala, with the opposition demanding accountability for one of the state's worst natural disasters in recent history.
