Kerala's Monsoon Menace: Landslides Devastate Villages

Catastrophic landslides are a recurring monsoonal tragedy in Kerala, a state situated in India's Western Ghats. The region experiences annual landslides, exacerbated by heavy rainfall and high population density in vulnerable areas. Recent incidents highlight the severity of the crisis.

In 2024, a devastating landslide on July 30 in Wayanad's Mundakkai and Chooralmala villages claimed 231 lives, with 41 individuals still missing. This event follows other significant landslides in recent years, including the 2018 incident that caused 4,728 landslides and 48 deaths, and the 2019 Puthumala and Kavalappara landslides.

Despite Kerala's high susceptibility, its landslide fatality rate is disproportionately high compared to other regions due to dense settlements in hazardous zones. Implementing protective measures like habitation-free zones is difficult given limited land availability. Experts emphasize that unscientific agricultural and habitation practices in vulnerable areas must be curtailed.

Mitigation requires a long-term action plan focused on accurate rainfall forecasting and area-specific early warnings. Installing automated rain gauges and weather stations is crucial for precise microclimatic monitoring. Additionally, a stringent land-use policy is needed to restrict construction on river and stream channels, ultimately aiming to reduce the risk from rainfall-induced landslides.