Recent Landslides in Wayanad
On July 30, 2023, landslides hit the villages of Mundakkai and Chooralmala in Wayanad.
The disaster resulted in 231 deaths, with 41 individuals still missing, marking it as one of the deadliest in India.
Concerns About Kerala's Approach to Disaster Management
The recent events highlighted inadequacies in disaster management practices, especially in a state previously considered relatively disaster-free.
'Human settlements and infrastructure development have often disregarded natural drainage and slope stability, increasing vulnerability to disasters.
Policy Guidelines for Disaster Risk Reduction
Current disaster management practices are primarily reactive, focusing on rescue and relief, rather than proactive risk reduction.
The Sendai Framework emphasizes the shared responsibility of disaster risk reduction among the state, local governments, private sectors, and communities.
Proposed Actions for Risk Management
Identify disaster risk zones based on physical and social criteria, tailored to watershed and river basin boundaries.
Engage local communities in disaster risk mapping and management, promoting a bottom-up approach to enhance resilience.
Way Forward
Transition to proactive disaster management, emphasizing preparedness, resilience, and risk reduction.
Foster a quadruple helix model involving communities, academia, government, and industry for effective disaster risk management and planning.
Develop landslide inventory and susceptibility maps to improve early warning systems and disaster preparedness efforts.
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