Opening dam without proper warning, inadequate food at relief camps: Pinarayi slams Kerala govt

Thiruvananthapuram: Leader of the Opposition Pinarayi Vijayan has criticised the government over the alleged release of water from the Ranni dam without adequate prior warning, saying lapses in disaster management and poor coordination had worsened the suffering of people affected by the floods.

In a Facebook post, Pinarayi Vijayan said the situation was unacceptable, alleging that traders were not given enough time even to move goods from their shops to safety before the dam was opened. As a result, many of them were forced to stage protests on the streets, he claimed.

He also expressed concern over the functioning of relief camps, saying the government itself had acknowledged shortcomings in food distribution. Owing to a lack of coordination among officials, volunteers, local residents and political workers had to step in to prepare and distribute food, he alleged.

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Pointing out that thousands of people were staying in hundreds of relief camps across the state, Pinarayi Vijayan said the administration must act with greater vigilance and efficiency during such emergencies.

He urged the government to ensure that all disaster-affected people receive food, drinking water, medicines, safe shelter and compensation without delay. At the same time, he called for a thorough review of the shortcomings in the response so that similar lapses are not repeated in future.

Pinarayi Vijayan also appealed for coordinated efforts by government departments, local self-government institutions, volunteers and the wider public to help the state overcome the crisis.

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According to the information available, 5,792 people are currently staying in 209 relief camps across Kerala. He described it as deeply distressing that eight people had lost their lives while another eight remained missing, and urged the government to intensify search operations to trace those who are unaccounted for.