Painful Loss of 166 lives in Kerala Landslides: ‘An Avertable Disaster’?
31st July 2024: The National Alliance of People’s Movements (NAPM) is deeply pained at the tragic death of close to 160 people in the landslides of Kerala over the past two days. We express our heartfelt condolences to the families of all the deceased and convey strength to the people of the state in this moment of immense grief. We also hope that the hundreds of people injured and trapped in the debris are provided with all possible aid and assistance. We appeal to all our comrades and people’s organizations in Kerala and nearby states to support the valiant rescue and relief operations underway
As has been reported, the colossal loss of life and injuries have been in the aftermath of the cloudburst, heavy rains and landslides in the Mundakkai and Chooralmalai regions in the Wayanad district of Kerala. The state witnessed many tragic deaths due to landslides in 2018 and 2019, as well. Even as immediate relief is significant, this incident should not be passed off as ‘yet another natural disaster’! While broader climatic conditions like the warming of the Arabian Sea have a role to play in the changing rainfall patterns, leading to landslides, other human-induced or rather state-enabled actions like rampant deforestation for reckless construction have accentuated the crisis. It is high time the underlying causes of these repeated landslides are officially acknowledged and necessary course correction ensured, at the highest levels.