The picturesque district of Wayanad in Kerala, known for its lush green landscapes and serene beauty, was recently struck by a devastating tragedy. On July 30, 2024, a series of massive landslides triggered by relentless monsoon rains wreaked havoc, claiming the lives of over 300 people, leaving hundreds more missing, and reducing entire communities to rubble. The disaster has not only brought grief to countless families but also raised alarming questions about the region’s vulnerability to natural calamities, exacerbated by human activities.
The Landslide’s Wrath: A Catastrophic Event
The landslides in Wayanad were among the deadliest in recent history, with the heaviest toll being in the towns of Mundakkai and Chooralmala. ISRO’s National Remote Sensing Centre (NRSC) captured the magnitude of the disaster through high-resolution satellite images, which showed the landscape before and after the landslides. The images revealed a grim reality: what once were thriving communities had turned into vast expanses of debris and mud. The landslide covered an area of 86,000 square meters, stretching approximately 8 kilometers, and widened the Iruvanipuzha River, causing it to breach its banks and devastate the surrounding areas.
The landslides originated from a zone already affected by an older landslide, indicating that the region was a ticking time bomb waiting to explode. Heavy rains triggered the debris flow, and the crown zone, an area reactivated from the previous landslide, crumbled under the pressure. The result was catastrophic, with homes, roads, and infrastructure swept away in a matter of minutes.
Rescue Operations: A Race Against Time
In the immediate aftermath, rescue operations were launched on a war footing. The Indian Army, known for its expertise in handling natural disasters, played a crucial role in the rescue efforts. Within 31 hours, the Army’s Engineer Task Force constructed a 120-foot-long Bailey bridge over the Iruvanipzha River, connecting the worst-hit areas of Mundakkai and Chooralmala. This bridge, built under challenging weather conditions and amid ongoing rescue efforts, was a lifeline that significantly accelerated the operations.
Despite the heroic efforts, the chances of finding more survivors dwindled with each passing hour. The relentless monsoon rains, difficult terrain, and the sheer scale of the disaster made rescue operations extraordinarily challenging. The district’s public cemeteries and crematoriums were overwhelmed, with mass graves being dug and funeral pyres working round the clock to cope with the rising death toll.
Underlying Causes: Nature and Human Intervention
While the immediate trigger for the landslides was heavy rainfall, the underlying causes are deeply rooted in human intervention and environmental degradation. Kerala’s Western Ghats, where Wayanad is located, are one of the most landslide-prone regions in India. According to ISRO’s Landslide Atlas, 10 out of the 30 most vulnerable districts in India are in Kerala, with Wayanad ranking 13th.
The region has seen extensive deforestation, expansion of plantations, and unregulated quarrying activities over the decades. A 2021 study revealed that 59% of landslides in Kerala occurred in plantation areas, and Wayanad’s forest cover had decreased by 62% between 1950 and 2018, while plantation areas increased by a staggering 1,800%. The loss of forest cover has left the soil loose and the slopes unstable, creating a perfect recipe for disaster.
Moreover, the warming of the Arabian Sea due to climate change has led to the formation of deep cloud systems, resulting in heavy rainfall over short periods. This atmospheric instability, previously common in the northern Konkan belt, is now affecting regions like Kerala. The intense rainfall, coupled with the region’s fragile terrain, makes it highly susceptible to landslides.
A Broader Perspective: Lessons from the Past
The Wayanad landslides are not an isolated incident. Kerala has witnessed several such tragedies in recent years, with the 2018 floods being the most severe. The floods, which claimed over 480 lives, were preceded by unusually high rainfall and were exacerbated by human activities such as unregulated construction, quarrying, and deforestation. The River Research Centre’s study on the 2018 floods highlighted how the mismanagement of dams and the lack of timely preventive measures contributed to the disaster.
Similar patterns have been observed in other parts of India, such as the Konkan region of Maharashtra, which experienced severe landslides in 2021 due to intense rainfall and unregulated quarrying activities. These recurring disasters underline the urgent need for a comprehensive approach to disaster management that includes stricter regulations on land use, better environmental conservation practices, and a focus on sustainable development.
Moving Forward: A Call for Sustainable Development
The Wayanad landslides have once again highlighted the fragile balance between human activities and nature. As Kerala mourns its losses, there is an urgent need to re-evaluate the state’s approach to development. The expansion of plantations, unregulated quarrying, and deforestation must be curbed to prevent further degradation of the Western Ghats. Additionally, there should be a concerted effort to restore the region’s natural vegetation, which plays a crucial role in stabilizing the soil and preventing landslides.
Climate change is another critical factor that cannot be ignored. As the effects of global warming become more pronounced, regions like Kerala are likely to experience more extreme weather events. Therefore, the state must invest in climate-resilient infrastructure, early warning systems, and disaster preparedness to mitigate the impact of such calamities.
The Kerala landslides serve as a grim reminder of the cost of environmental neglect. It is a wake-up call for not just Kerala, but for the entire country, to adopt a more sustainable and environmentally-conscious approach to development. Only by respecting the delicate balance of nature can we hope to prevent such tragedies in the future.
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