Devastating landslide in southern India linked to climate change
by Bhagyashree BarmanA catastrophic landslide struck southern India’s Kerala, causing widespread devastation.
The incident took place in Wayanad district on July 30.
Visuals showed the torrents of debris and water destroying homes and roads, leaving the area in ruins.
According to reports, triggered by sudden heavy rains, the landslide was captured on CCTV footage from a local bakery in Choorlamala.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Wayanad on August 10 to assess the situation. He conducted an aerial survey and visited affected areas, including Choorlamala, where he met with survivors and inspected the damage. The Prime Minister’s visit included a stop at a relief camp where he spoke with those displaced by the disaster.
Experts are attributing the severity of the landslide to climate change. A study by the World Weather Attribution Group revealed that the rainfall in Wayanad on July 30 was intensified by human-induced climate change, with a 10 percent increase in rainfall during the event. Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan reported that the region received 572 mm of rain in just 48 hours, more than double the predicted amount, exacerbating the landslide.
Looking forward, experts warn that if global temperatures rise by 2 degrees Celsius, Kerala could see a further increase in intense rainfall events, making landslides more frequent. This tragedy underscores the urgent need to address climate change and its growing impact on vulnerable regions like Wayanad.