Summary: On July 31, 2024, a deadly landslide in Wayanad, Kerala, India, occurred following continuous rainfall. Wayanad is situated in the Western Ghats, with lush green hills, dense forests, beautiful landscapes, and scenic waterfalls. Choormala and Mundakkai villages in the Wayanad District were hit by a landslide, which devastated the villages. Debris traveled 8 km along the local river, altering its course, causing a break in the bank, and destroying buildings and homes along the riverbanks and in villages. The landslide caused 420 deaths, 397 injuries, and 118 people are still missing. The Wayanad Landslide was triggered by heavy rainfall and seismic activity. This sets the stage for disaster, as significant deforestation of tea plantations causes them to have a slope of 20 degrees. This increased the risk of flash floods during the rainy season. The leading causes of this are deforestation, seismic sensitivity, poor building construction, increasing population, urbanization, industrialization, increased traffic, and increased global warming. A massive landslide after torrential rain caused flash floods, a breach, and a massive landslide, bringing in mass devastation. Local villages, the Army, and the National Disaster Response Force all contributed to the rescue efforts and continue to assist in the rehabilitation. The primary cause of the Wayanad Landslide was heavy rainfall, deforestation, and unstable soil. Major triggering factors include monocropping, illegal construction, global warming, climate change, increased greenhouse gases, and the use of fossil fuels. A decrease in global warming, deforestation, overconstruction, and help with research for climate change will help avoid this in the future. Active research is being done in India via the Kerala Disaster Management Authority, under the NDMA. Cochin University is also researching the causes of landslides and how to prevent them in the future.
Goma Bajaj (Sun,) studied this question.