From 2019 floods to 2024 Wayanad landslides: Why are deadly disasters repeatedly hitting Kerala?

Kerala’s vulnerability to such disasters is evident from its recent history. The 2018 floods, the worst the state has seen in a century, caused 483 deaths and extensive damage. The tragedy continued in 2019 with a landslide in Puthumala, Wayanad, claiming 17 lives. In 2021, landslides and heavy rains resulted in 53 deaths, and in 2022, further landslides and floods caused 18 deaths and significant property damage. Between 2015 and 2022, Kerala recorded the highest number of landslides in India, underscoring the region's ongoing struggle with natural disasters.