Wayanad landslides: India wakes up to realities of climate change beyond the heatwaves?

On July 30, 2024, multiple massive landslides triggered by heavy monsoon rains struck villages such as Mundakkai, Chooralmala, and Meppadi of Wayanad in Kerala. Over 340 people have been confirmed dead, with hundreds more injured or missing. The landslides obliterated entire villages, leaving many areas unrecognisable, covered in thick mud and boulders​. 

Rescue operations have been extensive, involving over 1,600 personnel from the Army, Navy, National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), and other agencies. Despite the challenging conditions, rescue workers continue to search for survivors and recover bodies​. The Indian Air Force has also deployed specialised teams and equipment to assist in the efforts​. 

The disaster has prompted significant responses from both domestic and international communities. The Indian government has announced financial aid for the victims, and various states and private entities have contributed to the relief efforts. International condolences and support have poured in from various countries, reflecting the global concern over the tragedy​. 

The Wayanad landslides of July 2024 have highlighted the region’s vulnerability to natural disasters and the need for improved disaster preparedness and response mechanisms. The landslides have also raised the million dollar question of the hour, ‘Is there a climate change connection?’

Realities of climate change in India beyond heatwaves

It is important to note that in India climate change has been mostly receiving some form of attention whenever heatwaves strike parts of the country and the general narrative around ‘global warming’ gains traction for some days around it on social and traditional media. However, it has been mostly limited to it. The fact that climate change is making its impact felt in more than one way across the country is mostly overlooked at almost all levels involving various stakeholders. 

The early warning systems in India is one such issue that received attention following the Wayanad landslides over the fact whether Kerala did or did not receive an early landslide warning. The Union Home Minister Amit Shah made multiple claims in the Lok Sabha on early warning systems in India and their utilisation to alert the Kerala government before the tragedy struck. The Hindu found in a fact-check that the warnings were not adequate enough for the state government to prepare for something as major as the Wayanad landslides. 

Meanwhile, the Congress party filed a privilege motion in the Rajya Sabha against Home Minister Amit Shah citing The Hindu’s fact-check on Shah’s speech in Parliament regarding the Wayanad landslides, accusing him of misleading the House. 

Climate change link – Wayanad landslides 

Between 2015 and 2022, India experienced 3,285 recorded landslides, with a notable increase in frequency during this period. In Kerala, the State Disaster Management Authority recorded over 500 landslides from 2018 to 2020. 

Kerala experienced the highest number of major landslides in India over the past seven years, as stated by the concerned Union Ministry in July 2022. Out of 3,782 landslides recorded between 2015 and 2022, Kerala accounted for 2,239 incidents, representing nearly 59.2% of the total.

While reports over the past decade have been mainly regarding landslides in prone areas of states like Kerala as mostly monsoon connected, it is increasingly getting clearer that the frequency is increasing and climate change is playing a major role apart from loss of forests and excessive mining. 

S Abhilash, director of the Advanced Centre for Atmospheric Radar Research at Cochin University of Science and Technology (CUSAT), reportedly termed the warming of the Arabian Sea as a major cause for the extreme rainfall patterns in Kerala. 

“Our research found that the southeast Arabian Sea is becoming warmer, causing the atmosphere above this region, including Kerala, to become thermodynamically unstable,” he was quoted as saying by the news agency PTI.

The expert also reportedly pointed out that extremely heavy spells of rain in shorter periods of time, observed since the 2019 Kerala floods, has increased the risk of landslides. 

Roxy Mathew Koll, a climate scientist at the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology, was quoted as saying by the news agency PTI, “Often, landslides and flash floods occur in regions where the impact of both climate change and direct human intervention in terms of land use changes is evident. At the same time, there have been many severe landslides in regions with minimal land use changes as well.”

Koll was further quoted by The Frontline as saying that we will witness an increase in extreme rainfall across India, particularly over the Western Ghats from Kerala to Maharashtra. He reportedly noted that approximately half of Kerala consists of hilly and mountainous regions with slopes greater than 20 degrees, making these areas especially vulnerable to landslides during heavy rains.

Mariam Zachariah, Research Associate at Imperial College London, was quoted as explaining by India Today that climate change is drastically altering Wayanad’s rainfall patterns and the once cool, humid environment has changed to drier, hotter summers and intense monsoon rainfall leading to an increase in the risk of landslides.

“This change has increased the risk of landslides. Dry soils absorb less water and heavy rainfalls cause run-offs that can lead to landslides, such as the ones we’ve seen this week,” Mariam Zachariah was quoted as saying.

References: 

https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/wayanad-landslides-warning-citing-the-hindus-fact-check-on-amit-shahs-speech-congress-moves-privilege-motion/article68478206.ece

https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/wayanad-landslides-linked-to-warming-of-arabian-sea-climate-change-what-experts-said-101722384663706.html

https://business.outlookindia.com/news/wayanad-landslide-the-economic-cost-of-climate-change-in-india

https://frontline.thehindu.com/news/kerala-wayanad-landslides-death-rescue-efforts-rains-floods/article68465507.ece?art=package

https://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/energy-and-environment/wayanad-landslide-amit-shah-claims-on-early-warnings-for-kerala-ahead-of-the-wayanad-landslide/article68471659.ece

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