Today’s Ten: Blame game begins as Wayanad death toll crosses 200
By Pragadish Kirubakaran in Media News on Thursday, 01st August 2024 at 4:20pmThe recent Wayanad landslides, resulting in over 200 deaths have ignited a political blame game, with Union Home Minister Amit Shah stating Kerala was warned. Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has refuted these claims. Although hampered by incessant rains, rescue efforts have saved 1,600 people in two days; yet over 225 remain missing. This disaster underscores the chronic neglect and rampant violations in the Western Ghats' hill areas, plagued by poor construction practices, lack of clearances, and possibly systemic corruption.
Yesterday, we wrote about The Hindu reporting on Ecologist Madhav Gadgil, who had long warned about the ecological fragility of the Western Ghats. His recommendations for stringent conservation measures have been ignored for decades, leading to such tragedies.
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