Kerala's government withdraws advisory restricting scientists from visiting landslide-hit areas and sharing opinions.

Kerala's government has withdrawn an advisory that prohibited scientists from visiting landslide-hit areas in Wayanad and sharing their opinions with the media, following outrage from the scientific community. The state's relief commissioner had previously asked the principal secretary of the department of science and technology to direct institutions not to visit disaster-affected areas and refrain from sharing information with the public. The government maintains that there is no policy preventing scientists from expressing their views, and emphasizes the importance of prioritizing rescue, recovery, and rehabilitation efforts.