Charming villages in India renowned for their beauty — Mundakkai, Chooralmala, Attamala, and Noolpuzha — now wear a grim look after landslides struck, isolating them from surrounding areas. Vehicles swept away by the floods are visibly lodged in tree trunks and partially submerged in numerous spots.
On July 30, 2024, landslides triggered by heavy monsoon rains devastated the southern Indian state of Kerala, resulting in the deaths of at least 167 people and injuries to dozens of others. The state’s Chief Minister, Pinarayi Vijayan, confirmed the casualties during a press conference, emphasizing the severity of the disaster that struck tea plantations in the Wayanad district.
The landslides, occurring around 2 a.m., cut off at least four villages and hampered rescue efforts due to continued rains and blocked roads.
The affected region, known for its hilly terrain and tea estates, relies heavily on casual laborers who were asleep in makeshift shelters when the disaster struck. Television footage depicted rescue workers navigating through uprooted trees and debris to reach survivors. One man was trapped in chest-high mud for hours before emergency workers could free him.
Kerala’s Chief Secretary, V Venu highlighted the challenging conditions faced by rescue teams: “A small team has managed to cross the bridge across the river and reach [the site], but we will need to send many more to provide help and to start rescue operations.”
The Army, dispatched to Wayanad district for rescue operations, successfully rescued around 1000 individuals using a makeshift bridge after the original bridge was destroyed.
Col. Paramvir Singh Nagra, Commandant of the DSC Centre, mentioned that the Army had been on standby for the past 15 days and was called by the Kerala government on Tuesday morning following the massive landslides in the mountainous district.
The monsoon rains, critical for agriculture and water supplies, often bring destructive floods and landslides. Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed condolences and announced compensation of $2,400 (200,000 rupees) for the families of the victims. “My thoughts are with all those who have lost their loved ones and prayers with those injured,” Modi said in a post on social media platform X.
Opposition leader Rahul Gandhi, who previously represented Wayanad in parliament, described the disaster as “heartbreaking” and called for a comprehensive action plan to address the increasing frequency of natural calamities in the region. “Our country has witnessed an alarming rise in landslides in recent years,” he noted.
The India Meteorological Department has predicted more rain, raising concerns about additional landslides and flooding. Kerala has faced recurrent rain-related disasters, with nearly 500 people killed in 2018 during the worst flooding in a century. Experts attribute the increasing frequency and severity of these events to climate change, which has intensified the monsoon storms.
In Wayanad, the local tea and cardamom estates, home to nearly 350 families, were severely impacted. Rescue operations have so far saved 250 people, but many remain missing. Hospitals are overwhelmed with patients suffering from fractures, abrasions, and respiratory issues due to mud inhalation.
State authorities have set up relief camps for thousands of displaced individuals, and a two-day state mourning period has been declared. The ongoing heavy rains continue to pose challenges for rescue operations, with the weather office issuing red alerts for the region.
Kerala has been identified as ecologically fragile, with a significant portion of the state prone to landslides. The increased frequency of extreme weather events is attributed to a combination of climate change and human activities such as quarrying and construction.
The disaster underscores the urgent need for comprehensive policies and long-term strategies to manage land use and mitigate the impact of climate change. Geoscientist CP Rajendran emphasized the importance of land-use zoning regulations and landslide susceptibility mapping to predict and prevent future disasters. “Kerala has about 19,000 sq km of hill areas with slopes higher than 10 degrees. These areas are thinly forested and largely disturbed by human activities,” he said.
As Kerala grapples with the aftermath of this devastating event, the focus remains on rescue efforts and providing relief to the affected communities. The state’s experience highlights the broader challenges posed by climate change and the need for adaptive measures to protect vulnerable populations.