WAYANAD
LANDSLIDES : ENVIRONMENT
NEWS:
Extreme
Weather in India:
- India faces severe weather:
torrential rain, floods, droughts, and cyclones.
- Experts attribute these to
climate change.
Wayanad
Landslide Details:
- Landslide on July 30, 2023,
killed 156 people.
- Heavy rains caused hillsides
to collapse, leading to mud, water, and boulder deluge.
- India is prone to
landslides; 12.6% of land area at risk (GSI).
Causes of
Landslides in Kerala:
- Ecological sensitivity:
Areas hit were marked highly sensitive by the Western Ghats Ecology Expert
Panel.
- Hilly terrain: 17,000 sq km
in Kerala prone to landslides.
- Inappropriate development:
Tea plantations, resorts, artificial lakes, and quarries exacerbated
risks.
- Erratic monsoon patterns and
increased rainfall intensity.
- La Nina conditions
strengthening monsoon flow.
National
Landslide Risk Management Strategy:
- NDMA's strategy aligns with
Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction (2015-30).
- Key areas for management:
- Hazard, vulnerability, and
risk assessment.
- Multi-hazard
conceptualisation.
- Remediation practices.
- R&D; monitoring and
early warning.
- Knowledge network and
management.
- Capacity building and
training.
- Public awareness and
education.
- Emergency preparedness and
response.
- Regulation and enforcement.
Extreme
Weather Events in India:
- Delhi floods:
Heavy rains and flooding in June.
- Assam floods:
Seasonal rains caused river overflows, floods, and landslides in July.
- Cyclone in southern India:
December 2023 cyclone hit southeastern coast.
- Sikkim floods:
October 2023 glacial lake outburst.
- Uttarakhand landslide:
February 2021 landslide triggered flash floods.
- Mumbai landslide:
July 2023 landslide flattened homes.
- Kerala floods:
2018 worst flood in a century, 373 deaths.
Source: https://epaper.thehindu.com/ccidist-ws/th/th_delhi/issues/93144/OPS/GR6D4MK5L.1+GMAD4OP8D.1.html