Title: Unnatural Disaster: Understanding the Wayanad Landslides
Introduction
Climate change can trigger unusual weather patterns, leading to natural disasters that might catch local responders off guard. The recent landslides in Wayanad, Kerala, on July 30, 2024, are a stark example of this. Although landslides are common during Kerala’s southwest monsoon, this particular disaster was notably severe.
Impact of the Landslides
Heavy rains precipitated multiple landslides, resulting in the deaths of 200 people and the destruction of several villages. Wayanad, a popular tourist destination, experienced extensive damage due to increased river flow and debris. The Chaliyar river’s heightened force and volume carried more sediment downstream, devastating the villages.
Contributing Factors
The Chaliyar river starts from a high altitude and flows rapidly downhill. This year, the river’s increased volume and force carried more debris to the villages, causing significant damage. Additionally, the 2020 rains had denuded the upstream areas of plant cover, making the region more fragile and vulnerable to landslides. The peculiarities of the region’s geography and climate make it susceptible to such disasters.
Historical Context and Risks
The areas of Idukki, Kottayam, Malappuram, and Wayanad have long been known for their landslide risks, a fact reflected in landslide risk maps. The recurrence of such disasters highlights the need for better preparedness. The monsoons now produce intense bursts of rain, which, combined with weakened ecosystems due to quarrying, construction, and monocropping, make the region more susceptible to landslides.
Challenges and Recommendations
The lack of advance warning and emergency preparedness exacerbates the issue. To mitigate future risks, Kerala must avoid new engineering projects in sensitive areas and focus on restoring lost vegetation. The feasibility of balancing development with environmental protection is crucial. The Western Ghats Ecology Expert Panel’s recommendations aim to address these challenges, but Kerala must improve its approach to prevent the recurrence of such devastating events.
Meaning of the word:
| Word | Meaning | Synonyms | Antonyms |
| Precipitating | “Precipitating” generally means causing something to happen suddenly or quickly, often something undesirable or unexpected. | Causing Triggering Instigating Provoking | Preventing Delaying Impeding Inhibiting |
| Peculiarities | “Peculiarities” refers to the distinctive or unusual characteristics, traits, or behaviors that make something or someone different from the norm. | Quirks Oddities Eccentricities Distinctive | Normalities Commonalities Conformities Usual |
| Recurrence | “Recurrence” refers to the act of something happening or appearing again, often repeatedly or at intervals. | Repetition Return Reappearance Resurgence | Cessation End Discontinuation Termination |
| Fragile | “Fragile” means easily broken, damaged, or destroyed. It can refer to physical objects, as well as emotional states or situations that are delicate and require careful handling. | Delicate Brittle Breakable Vulnerable | Sturdy Robust Durable Resilient |
| Denuded | “Denuded” means stripped of its covering, surface layer, or essential elements, often leaving something exposed, bare, or vulnerable. | Bare Stripped Exposed Depleted | Covered Protected Shrouded Adorned |
| Feasibility | “Feasibility” refers to the practicality or possibility of something being accomplished or successfully implemented. | Practicability Viability Possibility Workability | Impossibility Unworkability Infeasibility Unattainability |
