This alarming revelation comes after a series of landslides, triggered by heavy rain in the hilly regions of Wayanad district, claimed the lives of at least 106 individuals, with many still feared trapped under the rubble.

The devastating landslides in Kerala’s Wayanad district have resulted in a death toll surpassing 106, with many more individuals feared trapped under the rubble. Heavy rains have caused widespread destruction in the hilly terrains of Wayanad, triggering these deadly landslides.

The Impact of Heavy Rainfall

On Tuesday morning, torrential rains caused major landslides in the mountainous region surrounding Meppadi in Wayanad district. These landslides have resulted in at least 106 deaths, 128 injuries, and left hundreds more suspected trapped. The relentless rainfall has compounded the region’s vulnerability, leading to catastrophic outcomes.

Climate Change and Warming Arabian Sea

A senior climate scientist has highlighted a disturbing trend linked to these natural disasters. S. Abhilash, the Director of the Advanced Centre for Atmospheric Radar Research at Cochin University of Science and Technology (CUSAT), warned that the warming of the Arabian Sea is a significant factor contributing to these landslides.

“The warming Arabian Sea is leading to the formation of deep cloud systems, which result in extremely heavy rainfall over Kerala within a shortened time frame, significantly increasing the risk of landslides,” Abhilash stated.

Regional Weather Patterns and Monsoon Activity

The states of Kasargod, Kannur, Wayanad, Calicut, and Malappuram have experienced substantial rainfall due to an active monsoon offshore trough affecting the entire Konkan region for the past two weeks. Continuous rainfall had already saturated the soil, making the region highly susceptible to landslides.

“The formation of a deep mesoscale cloud system off the coast of the Arabian Sea on Monday triggered localized landslides in Wayanad, Calicut, Malappuram, and Kannur,” Abhilash explained in an interview with PTI.

Parallels to Past Disasters

Abhilash drew parallels between the current weather patterns and those observed during the catastrophic floods in Kerala in 2019. The recent weather patterns, marked by the development of very deep cloud systems over the southeast Arabian Sea, bear a striking resemblance to those witnessed in 2019, signaling a similar risk of widespread flooding and landslides.

“The increasing warmth of the southeast Arabian Sea is destabilizing the atmosphere above, contributing to the formation of these deep clouds. This atmospheric instability, linked to climate change, has shifted the rain-bearing belt southward, moving away from its historical zone in the northern Konkan region,” Abhilash explained.

Rising Intensity of Rainfall

The intensity of rainfall has been alarming. Several automatic weather stations across the districts of Thrissur, Palakkad, Kozhikode, Wayanad, Kannur, Malappuram, and Ernakulam recorded rainfall measurements ranging from 19 cm to 35 cm.

“Many IMD automatic weather stations in the affected areas documented rainfall exceeding 24 cm within 24 hours, with some farmer-installed stations recording over 30 cm,” Abhilash noted.

Conclusion

The Wayanad landslides serve as a stark reminder of the devastating impacts of climate change and the urgent need for comprehensive disaster preparedness and mitigation strategies. As the death toll continues to rise and rescue efforts are underway, the focus must also shift towards addressing the root causes of such natural disasters to prevent future tragedies.