Kerala landslide adds to tally of over 180 rain-related deaths since June

The devastating monsoon season of 2024 has inflicted profound tragedy across India, marked by a series of catastrophic events. In Kerala, relentless rains triggered deadly landslides, leaving scores feared dead and hundreds trapped under debris. These are scenarios that have become alarmingly common this year due to the torrential rainfall and improper disaster-abating infrastructure in our country.

Monsoon mayhem across India

Since the onset of the monsoon in June, nearly 150 people have lost their lives in various rain-related incidents across India. The situation has been particularly dire in states like Gujarat, Himachal Pradesh, Delhi, Maharashtra, and Kerala.

• Gujarat: The state has reported 65 deaths due to heavy rainfall, the highest so far this season. Many of these lives were lost due to widespread flooding, landslides and other rain-related incidents.
• Himachal Pradesh: With 56 fatalities, the state has faced severe flooding and landslides, causing extensive damage to infrastructure and necessitating massive rescue operations.
• Delhi: The capital experienced its heaviest June rainfall in 88 years, resulting in six deaths and significant disruptions, including the closure of a terminal at the Indira Gandhi International Airport.
• Maharashtra: Recent heavy rains have claimed six lives and injured 12 after triggering a landslide that trapped many in Lavasa. The downpours also inundated many houses in low-lying parts of the state.
• Kerala: Landslides triggered by incessant rains around 2 AM on Tuesday trapped hundreds and resulted in 54 deaths so far, with rescue operations ongoing. The landslides have hit many areas, including Mundakkai, Attamal, Chooralmala and Kunhone.

The Indian government, along with state authorities, has been actively engaged in rescue and relief operations. In Himachal Pradesh, Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu announced financial aid for affected families and coordinated with the National Disaster Response Force and other agencies for evacuation and relief efforts. In Delhi, the government, assisted by the army, managed rescue operations and worked to restore essential services disrupted by the flooding of the Yamuna River. 200 soldiers have also been deployed to Kerala to assist the landslide-trapped.

Climate change and increased vulnerability

Forecasters and scientists have been warning that such events are only set to turn more frequent and deadly in the coming years, thanks to climate change. Rising temperatures have the ability to lead to more intense monsoon rains, increasing the likelihood of floods and landslides. Further, increased soil saturation and flooding can also undermine the stability of railway tracks, leading to higher risks of derailments during such periods of intense rain.
According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), the monsoon season in 2023 saw around 170 rain-related deaths by the end of July, as per media reports. This year, the toll has already surpassed this figure, indicating the growing severity of weather events attributed to climate change.

Increased budget for disaster management

However, there is good news in the fact that the Government is taking notice. In response to the increasing frequency of such disasters, the Union Budget 2024-25 has made substantial allocations towards disaster prevention and management, even earmarking special relief funds for several states grappling with regular disasters, such as Bihar, Assam, Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh and Sikkim for flood management, landslide and related projects.

As per the Ministry of Finance, through the Accelerated Irrigation Benefit Programme and other sources, government will provide financial support for projects with estimated cost of Rs 11,500 crore such as the Kosi-Mechi intra-state link and 20 other ongoing and new schemes including barrages, river pollution abatement and irrigation projects.
With the monsoon season still in progress, the government and disaster management agencies remain on high alert. Continuous efforts are being made to improve infrastructure resilience and enhance early warning systems to mitigate the impact of such natural disasters. However, the ongoing challenges posed by climate change necessitate sustained and comprehensive strategies to protect vulnerable populations and infrastructure.