New Delhi: India Meteorological Department (IMD) chief Mrutyunjay Mohapatra on Thursday said that the IMD issued forecasts for significant rainfall activity along the west coast of India on a regular basis and a red alert for Kerala in the early morning of July 30.

During an online press conference, the IMD chief said the weather department had issued an extended range forecast for significant rainfall activity along the west coast of India on July 18 and July 25.

"The long-range forecast issued on July 25 indicated good rainfall activity along the west coast and central parts of the country from July 25 to August 1. We issued a yellow warning on July 25, which continued until July 29, when we issued an orange warning. A red warning was issued in the early morning of July 30, indicating that very heavy rainfall, up to 20 cm, was expected," Mohapatra said.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Wednesday had said the Kerala government did not heed the Centre's warning regarding a possible natural calamity in Wayanad due to heavy rains, prompting a sharp response from state chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan, who refuted his remarks as "baseless" and "inconsistent".

Shah said that multiple "advance warnings" were given to the Kerala government before the tragedy on July 30. At least 167 people have died and over 200 injured in the massive landslides that hit the northern Kerala district of Wayanad on Wednesday.

"I would like to specify that on July 23, the Kerala government was given an early warning by the central government, seven days prior (to the tragedy) then again on July 24, and July 25. On July 26 it was informed that there would be heavy rainfall of more than 20 centimeters, there is a possibility of a landslide, there could be a rush of mud and people could even die by getting buried beneath it.," Shah said.

His statement came amidst criticism from the Opposition who blamed the loss of lives due to the lack of early warning systems for natural calamities such as the one in Wayanad.

"I would like to reiterate that early warning was given and therefore we dispatched nine NDRF teams there on July 23 whereas three battalions were sent yesterday (July 30)," the Union Home Minister said.

Responding to Shah's claim, Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said on Wednesday that the IMD had only issued an orange alert in the district ahead of the landslides. However, he said that the district received over 572 mm of rainfall, which was significantly higher than what was predicted by the IMD.

Heavy rain-induced landslides claimed over 280 lives in Wayanad district.

The IMD chief said that an orange warning means "be prepared for action and one should not wait for red warnings." Similarly, warnings were in place for Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand, IMD chief said. Mohapatra said it is difficult to ascertain whether Himachal Pradesh experienced a cloudburst.

"For example, Delhi also experienced heavy rainfall (on Wednesday night) concentrated in a short period. We call them extremely intense spells," he said.

"The reason behind heavy to very heavy rainfall in Delhi, Himachal Pradesh, and Uttarakhand is the shifting of the monsoon trough (from south of its normal position) to the north," he explained. For Delhi, an orange warning was issued with a lead time of two days, Mohapatra said.

(Agency inputs)