KOCHI: Kerala’s physical infrastructure is rapidly changing. But whether the state is a safe place to settle down is something that needs some serious analysis. For 547 lives were lost in the state to natural disasters, ranging from heavy rain to landslides, in the past five years.
Among the five southern states, Kerala recorded the second highest number of deaths in natural disasters after Tamil Nadu in the past five years. Even the continuous downpour the state experienced for the past few days had sent alarm bells ringing and disrupted the normal life of thousands.
Though experts said Kerala was comparatively a safer zone, it was high time the state gave priority to a ‘Safety Culture’ which ensures all development is done only based on a scientific risk assessment.
As per the latest Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) data on damage due to cyclonic storms, heavy rains, floods, landslides and earthquakes, 547 lives were lost in Kerala between March 2013 and February 1, 2018 to the disasters. During the same period, there were 642 deaths in Tamil Nadu, 193 deaths in Karnataka, 259 deaths in Andhra Pradesh and 49 in Telangana.
The 2011 census revealed the population density of Kerala was 859 persons per sq km, the highest among the four southern states. However, the impact of natural disasters was high in Kerala because of the booming physical infrastructure, poor land-planning and growing number of informal settlements in vulnerable areas. Since land is scarce, people settle in more disaster-prone areas where no one else wants to live.
“Land scarcity in Kerala is pushing people to live in areas vulnerable to disasters. Moreover, there is a lack of safety culture in the state. Even land development is unscientific and is being carried out without proper risk assessment,” said Murali Thummarukudy, the chief of the Post-conflict and Disaster Management branch of UN Environment Programme.
“People are constructing dwelling units in hills and low-lying areas, adjacent to rivers and lakes without proper scientific risk assessment. This exposes them to more risks during heavy rains,” he said, adding deaths like drowning during floods could be avoided if necessary precautions were taken. Changing climate and demography are also contributing to the vulnerability factor.
Kerala Disaster Management Authority hazard analyst Parvathy S said most of the deaths reported during heavy rains were due to drowning, falling of tree and electrocution. “Landslides are another major factor causing deaths in the state,” she said.