The devastating floods in Kerala have subsided, but the aftermath is far from over. The state is now grappling with water-borne diseases such as leptospirosis and hepatitis A, while the rehabilitation and recovery process remains slow and challenging. As the full extent of the crisis is yet to be comprehended, Kerala serves as a stark reminder for the rest of India.
In a stark contrast, at the other end of the country, Nagaland is currently witnessing one of the worst floods in its history. Shockingly, around 48,000 people, accounting for 13 per cent of the state’s population, are estimated to be affected.
The severity of recent floods in different parts of the country indicates a disturbing trend. Previously, if floods of such magnitude struck any region, they would have been considered among the worst in history. However, recent occurrences, such as the devastating floods in Kerala and Tamil Nadu, have shattered previous records. Tragically, such disasters are becoming increasingly frequent, leaving a trail of devastation in their wake. The floods in Srinagar claimed the lives of 160 people, while Uttarakhand floods presumed 5,700 casualties. The cloudbursts in Ladakh took the lives of 234 individuals, and Mumbai floods brought the city to a standstill, with a staggering 994 mm of rain recorded within 24 hours.
Disturbingly, each flood surpasses its predecessor in intensity. The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) reveals that between 1996 and 2005, the average annual damage caused by floods increased by 1.5 times to INR 4,745 crore, compared to the preceding 53-year period when the average stood at INR 1,805 crore. Experts argue that while climate change cannot be solely blamed for individual floods or heatwaves, the rising frequency of such events indicates that the climate today differs from what it was in the past. With a growing population, rapid urbanisation and poorly regulated floodplain development, India’s resilience to climate variability has significantly weakened.
To address this pressing issue, two critical actions are needed: reducing carbon emissions at both the national and global levels and enhancing climate resilience through protection of forests, floodplains and water bodies. While Kerala leads the country in carbon emission reduction, it falls short in preserving vital ecological features. Kerala and Jammu & Kashmir are the only states in India that managed to achieve a per capita Co2 emission reduction, making them ‘net removers of Co2’.
