Kerala’s Vulnerability to Landslides and Floods: A Growing Concern

Kerala’s landscape is often shaped by heavy rains and flooding, with a notable 14.5 percent of its land vulnerable to such extremes. A report from The Week highlights that 13 of Kerala’s districts face a significant risk of landslides, with the exception of Alappuzha, which sits comfortably on the coast. The Kerala State Disaster Management Authority (KSDMA) has pinpointed a staggering 1,848 square kilometers—4.75 percent of the state’s area—as high-risk zones for landslides.

The Western Ghats, a major geographical feature of southern Kerala, presents a critical hazard. About 8 percent of this region is marked as a high-risk zone for mass movements like debris flows, landslides, rock falls, and slumps, according to The Week. A recent study uncovers that approximately 13 percent of Kerala is extremely susceptible to landslides. The districts of Idukki, Palakkad, Malappuram, Pathanamthitta, and Wayanad are especially vulnerable.

Kerala University of Fisheries and Ocean Sciences (Kufos) has found that after the extreme rainfall event of 2018, the zone at risk for severe landslides increased by 3.46 percent.

Back in 2011, the Western Ghats Ecology Experts Panel (WGEEP), led by ecologist Madhav Gadgil, identified much of Idukki and Wayanad as category 1 eco-sensitive zones. This classification indicated high vulnerability and suggested that forest lands in these areas should be preserved from agricultural and other non-forest uses. However, the recommendations were softened two years later in the Kasturirangan report.

Several factors contribute to Kerala’s frequent landslides during the rainy season. Climate change and deforestation are major culprits. The shifting patterns of rainfall in Kerala have added to the problem. TV Sajeev, a scientist at the Kerala Forest Research Institute, shared with Scroll in 2020 that monsoon rains, once reliably starting on June 1, are now delayed to early June. Instead of steady rain, Kerala now experiences intermittent showers, with intense rainfall hitting between late July and mid-August.

S Abhilash, Research Director at the Advanced Centre for Atmospheric Radar Research in Cochin University of Science and Technology, notes that while the total rainfall over the season hasn’t changed much, the concentration of heavy rain into fewer days has increased. This change, driven by climate change, leads to severe events like floods and landslides.

In addition, construction in vulnerable areas exacerbates the issue. “We’ve seen a surge in construction in high-risk zones, including roads and culverts,” says Sreekumar. “However, our infrastructure is still based on older rainfall patterns. We need to reassess the risks when planning new projects. Many of our constructions don’t account for rivers and their natural flow, which can lead to flash floods. Our current building practices are contributing to the destruction.”

Girish Gopinath, head of the Kufos Department of Climate Variability and Aquatic Ecosystems, agrees, stating that human activities around the high ranges of Wayanad and Idukki significantly contribute to landslides.

According to BOOM, landslides result from the combined effects of water on topography, soil, geology, and vegetation. G Sankar, a former scientist with the National Centre for Earth Science Studies (NCESS), explains that the Western Ghats’ thick soil cover, combined with human intervention, makes the area particularly unstable. During the monsoon, rainwater saturates the soil, making it prone to instability. When the water content reaches a critical point, the soil becomes weak and triggers debris flows. “We must keep mountain drainage channels unobstructed to allow for proper runoff,” Sankar advises. “Building on or near these channels, or failing to maintain a 50-meter buffer on both sides, contributes to increased risk.”

Unfortunately, these natural disasters hit the most vulnerable hardest. Historically marginalized groups, including women, the elderly, children, persons with disabilities, Scheduled Tribes, Scheduled Castes, and fisherfolk, bear the brunt of the calamities .

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