Flash floods and landslides occurred after the torrential rains that hit southern India in the weekend 16,17 October.
According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), this year’s October was the wettest, since 1960. The heavy rains lashed Kerala’s region, causing more than 27 casualties and even more people missing. Rescue operations still take place in the area, including efforts by the army, navy and air force, trying to find survivors under the muddied debris. As the rain intensified, many roads were cut off flooded, buildings collapsed, regions were isolated and a lot of people were evacuated. Despite the fact that the rains, caused by a low pressure area over the south-eastern Arabian Sea and Kerala, eased after the intense weekend, authorities remain alerted for impending rainfall in other areas as well.
Due to the huge amount of rainfall, the rivers swelled and big landslides occurred in a lot of different areas of the region. Another big problem was the red alert issued at the Kerala dams, at risk of overflow. The authorities proceeded to opening some of the dams, to reduce the risk of overflow and avoid more catastrophic consequences. Although, at the same time, it is important to not underestimate the great risk for the already flooded areas to gather even more water by the release of the dams.
India is at high frequency hit by monsoons and as a result floods and destructive landslides. Similar incidents happened in July in the Maharashtra State, western India. The region of Kerala, has recently suffered from similar extreme rains, in 2018, with more than 400 people killed and thousands displaced from their homes. Experts point out that the frequency and intensity of these phenomena have increased over the past few years and it is important to be alerted for the future potential incidents.
Sources: The Guardian, Sky news, ndtv, Reuters
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