Wayanad Landslides: Centre Denies Kerala’s Request To Declare As National Disaster, Priyanka Criticises Move

Home Affairs MoS Nityanand Rai stated that no current provision under the guidelines for SDRF or NDRF allows for an event to be declared a “national disaster.”

The central government has informed the Kerala government that the severe landslides and flash floods that hit Wayanad in July 2024 do not qualify for classification as a “national disaster.” The decision comes despite the widespread devastation, which left over 200 people dead and resulted in the destruction of hundreds of homes. Kerala has been pressing the Centre to classify the calamity as a national disaster and provide additional assistance for relief and rehabilitation efforts.

Minister of State for Home Affairs Nityanand Rai, in a letter dated November 10, stated that no current provision under the guidelines for the State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF) or National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF) allows for an event to be declared a “national disaster.” The Centre has allocated Rs 388 crore to Kerala’s SDRF for the financial year 2024-25, with Rs 291.20 crore of this amount disbursed in advance. According to Rai, an additional Rs 394.99 crore remains in Kerala’s SDRF account as of April 1, 2024, ensuring ample resources for ongoing relief efforts.

The Kerala government had previously appealed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi in August, asking for a national disaster declaration for the catastrophic events in Wayanad. Although Minister Rai expressed the Centre’s continued support to Kerala, the state government remains concerned over the lack of additional central aid.

Even earlier, Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan criticised the delay in substantial support for affected communities, emphasising that the state’s repeated requests to the Union government have gone unanswered.

Priyanka Gandhi Hits Back

In a strong response, Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra condemned the Centre’s stance. "Despite the landslides that devastated Wayanad, the BJP govt refuses to declare it a national disaster, denying essential relief to those in dire need. This isn’t just negligence; it’s a shocking injustice to those who have suffered unimaginable loss," she said.

Priyanka noted that Prime Minister Modi personally visited Wayanad during the crisis witnessing the damage but accused the government of prioritising politics over relief. She highlighted similar experiences of inadequate support during calamities in Himachal Pradesh, warning that political partiality in disaster response was “unprecedented and unacceptable.”