Kerala hit by monsoon landslides | Explained
Kerala is facing an increasing frequency of catastrophic landslides, with recent events in Wayanad causing significant loss of life. Experts attribute this to a combination of extreme rainfall, climate change, and the state's vulnerable geological terrain.
Why it matters
The recurring nature of these disasters highlights the urgent need for better disaster management and climate adaptation strategies in high-density, ecologically sensitive regions.
The story so far : Catastrophic landslides have become a recurring monsoonal phenomenon in Kerala, nestled in the foothills of the Western Ghats along India’s west coast. Every year, landslides claim scores of lives in the State, which has a high population density and extensive habitation across vulnerable terrain.
This year, the first major incident was reported in Wayanad, where a debris slide triggered by an extreme rainfall event at the entrance of the under-construction twin tunnel at Kalladi in July claimed eight lives. This was followed by relatively minor landslips in Idukki and Kottayam on July 31, triggered by heavy rainfall, which claimed four lives so far.
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