Advertisement
In a statement on Thursday night, Vijayan said the news that the SDMA had directed scientific institutions and scientists not to visit the disaster-affected Meppadi panchayat in Wayanad and not to express their opinions was misleading.
“The state government does not have such a policy,” the chief minister said.
“The chief secretary has been directed to immediately intervene and withdraw the communication that conveyed such a message,” he said.
Related Articles
Advertisement
The note had said that the scientific community should restrain themselves from sharing their opinions and study reports with the media.
It also stated that prior permission from the Kerala State Disaster Management Authority (KSDMA) was required to undertake any studies in the disaster-affected area.
The massive landslides struck Kerala’s Wayanad district on Tuesday morning, killing at least 190 people and injuring many. With nearly 200 people missing, the death toll is expected to rise.