The Kerala government’s recent directive to restrict the scientific community from discussing or investigating the devastating landslide in Wayanad district was later withdrawn due to widespread condemnation from academics and environmentalists.
The order, issued by the State Relief Commissioner and Principal Secretary of Disaster Management, Tinku Biswal, mandated that all science and technology institutions in Kerala refrain from conducting field visits to Meppadi, the disaster-affected zone, and from sharing their findings with the media.
In the order, Biswal emphasised that the scientific community must seek prior permission from the Kerala State Disaster Management Authority (KSDMA) before undertaking any study in the area.
“The scientific community shall be directed to restrain themselves from sharing their opinions and study reports to the media,” the order stated.
“The restriction aims to prevent the spread of various theories and counter-theories during the disaster.” Malayala Manorama quoted as Biswal arguing.
The directive has been met with sharp criticism from various quarters. Rajesh Abraham, a reporter for The New Indian Express, labeled the order as “atrocious” and shared it on social media.
Prominent academic and director of the Centre for the Study of Developing Societies (CSDS), Suhas Palshikar, questioned the government’s move. “With such a mindset, how do opposition parties expect to fight the authoritarianism of the current ruling party at the centre?” Palshikar wrote on X.
The landslide, which struck Wayanad on July 30, resulted in at least 298 deaths, with around 240 people still missing. Torrential rains triggered landslides between 1.30 am and 3.00 am on Tuesday in the Chooralmala and Mundakkai regions of Meppadi, wiping out large areas of land and decimating villages and tea estates.
Following the criticism, Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan later directed officials to retract the circular and posted it on the chief minister’s official Facebook page. “The news that the State Disaster Management Authority has instructed scientific and technological institutes and scientists not to visit and comment on Meppadi Panchayat in Wayanad as it has been declared a disaster area is misleading. The state government does not have such a policy. Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan directed the Chief Secretary to immediately intervene to withdraw the concerned officials who had communicated in such a way.” the post said.
Wayanad, a hilly district in the Western Ghats, is particularly susceptible to landslides during the monsoon season. These recent landslides are the worst to hit Kerala since 2020, when a landslide in Pettimudi, Idukki, claimed 66 lives. The national attention is now focused on Wayanad, where rescue operations are in full swing.
The government’s restriction has also extended to limiting the entry of persons outside Wayanad. Strict patrolling has been enforced at entry points like the Thamarassery Hairpin, and all relief work is being channeled through the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund (CMRF).
Studies conducted over the years have highlighted the fragility of Kerala’s terrain, exacerbated by climate change, deforestation, and heavy rains. The Landslide Atlas released by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) last year ranked Wayanad among the top 30 most landslide-prone districts in India. The Western Ghats, where Wayanad is located, is one of the eight “hottest hotspots” of biological diversity in the world and is particularly vulnerable to landslides.
