Kerala Floods: Damage and Rebuilding

This assignment delves into the catastrophic effects of the 2018 Kerala floods, analyzing the extensive damage caused to infrastructure, homes, and livelihoods. It examines various reports and articles detailing the economic impact, rescue operations, and the challenges faced in rebuilding the affected regions. The assignment also highlights key lessons learned from this disaster and explores potential strategies for enhancing flood resilience in the future.

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Kerala floods in India
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Introduction
Kerala, at the southern tip of India, is a popular state among the international tourists and
well known for its tropical hills, scenic green landscapes, and beaches. However, this year it was
in the news for being battered by torrential floods and record monsoons. In India, floods are the
most frequent and common of all natural disasters and the Kerala floods in recent time is the
most striking example.
The annual precipitation, in India, is about 4,000 Billion Cubie Meter, and the seasonal
monsoons account for 3,000 BCM out of the above (Mohapatra. & Singh 2003, pp. 131).
Unequal seasonal distribution and temporal and spatial variations of the rainfall in India shows
frequent departures from the normal. Different movement agencies have shown that the flood-
prone area in India is increasing dramatically. According to the Central Water Commission
(CEC), the annual average area due to floods is about 7.563 million ha. Between 1953 -2000,
floods have impacted about 33 million persons (Mohapatra. & Singh 2003, pp. 131). With a
steady rise in population, it is only apparent that the number of people affected due to floods is
now much beyond the above-given numbers. The main reason behind floods in India in1ude
riverbank erosion, inadequate capacity to contain high flows within riverbanks and silting of
riverbeds. Other factors include landslides, obstruction of flows and poor natural drainage in the
flood-prone area as stated by Mohapatra. & Singh (2003 pp. 133).
The monsoons in Kerala
Kerala has a unique geography and carries a vast expanse of low lying areas. About 10
percent lies below the sea level, and it is here where people have built their homes and
businesses (Dutta, 2018). Kerala carries a high population density which is more than twice the

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national average. Severe floods affected the south Indian state that witnessed unusually high
rainfall and the worst flooding during the monsoon season. Meteorologists reported Kerala
received 37.5% more rainfall than average and Idukki in the north was the worst hit with 83.5%
excess rain. More than eighty dams in the state had opened their gates to release their waters as
their reservoir became dangerously high (Safi, 2018). The distressing floods in Kerala killed
more than 300 (Safi, 2018). It is seen as the worst inundation crisis in a century for the country
as the torrential rain and strong winds sent sweeping torrents flood waters through villages in the
region.
The damage
Aerial photographs show little division between roads and backwaters of Kerala (Dutta,
2018). The floods have destroyed 45,000 hectares of farmland, 27,000 houses, and 134 bridges.
82,000 km of local roads and 16,000 km of Public Works Department roads have been
completely destroyed (India today, 2018). Kulamavu, Adimali, and Cheruthoni are the worst
damaged areas. The biggest challenge is to reach the affected areas and get the roads cleared.
NH185 is a crucial link to the higher areas like Idukki and Munnar (Varma, Janardhanan &
Philip, 2018).Flooding in the hilly terrain has led to the destruction of homes, road networks,
bridges, and industries. The roads were damaged, and the international airport was closed, and
more than 200,000 people were left homeless because of the unusually heavy rains (Safi, 2018).
The floods forced people to leave their homes and live in relief camps. It will require a massive
workforce and months to restore the damaged areas.
Type of building structures that got damaged
The architecture of Kerala Architecture is of vernacular styles based on primitive
circular, square or rectangular shapes. The houses are typically made of stones, timber, palm

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leaves and clay. Roofing is ridged and supported by wooden brackets and it is interesting to note
that no nails are used and the roof frame is supported by pillars on walls (Faseehun, 2015). As
one can infer that the way the houses are constructed in Kerala and the material used to construct
them is not sturdy and offers no support or resilience in case of surging storms and heavy
flooding. This is the reason why the recent floods in Kerala have destroyed its vital
infrastructure and brought life to a complete halt. Houses, roads and other buildings were
completely flooded and destroyed. It is seen that most houses in Kerala are load-bearing
structures and are made of bricks and laterite. There are no frames, and the house is covered with
a large tiled roof and the tiles on the roof added to the problem as the tiles add to the weight, and
the tiled pavements did not allow any absorption of water by the soil (Ramnani, 2018). The load-
bearing structures made of bricks or laterite when subjected to water lose their strength
significantly. The foundations of houses in Kerala are not strong as they are made of marine clay.
Kochi airport is a good example of poor planning as it is built on paddy fields and wetlands. The
airport extends up to the banks of the river. The airport is often flooded following monsoon rains
in Kerala (Nagendra, 2018). The spread of high-rise buildings on hill slopes has weakened the
soil. Thus, the unplanned development has made the region more susceptible and vulnerable to
flash floods and landslides (Nagendra, 2018). Rebuilding homes and infrastructure would require
a new urban architectural and planning vocabulary. Reinforced concrete structures should be
built on stilts (Ramnani, 2018).
Why they got damaged due to floods in Kerala?
As the houses in Kerala rest on weak soil and foundation and are made of local natural
building materials like timber, palm leaves and clay, they are not flood proof at all. What makes
2018 more devastating is because of the lower capacity of the state to deal with extreme floods.

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Illegal stone quarrying, mining on river beds and changing drainage patterns have raised the
vulnerability and worsened the situation of the current floods (Tripathi, 2018). Environmentalists
identify the use of land for high rises construction in the catchment areas of rivers and river-beds
as the main reason behind the calamity (Dutta, 2018). The Western Ghats Ecology Expert Panel
way back in 2011 had reported to the Indian Ministry of Environment and Forests about how the
ill-focused development was destroying the sustainability of the Western Ghats hills (Nagendra,
2018). Activities such as quarrying, construction near protected forests and building dams were
against the approach of thoughtful conservation.
How they got damaged due to floods in Kerala
Floods leave an immediate impact on the environment and the communities. The
consequences and damage rely on the vulnerability of the natural and built environments. In
Kerala, houses have been damaged entirely due to recent floods. The structures have collapsed in
the heavy rain with the roofs giving in and water rushing inside. All possessions have been
destroyed (Rajendran, 2018). The houses were partly or wholly submerged, and many electric
poles and trees have been uprooted and fell on the ground or the houses. Most of the buildings
and houses have been fully or partially damaged in the rains. Landslides have cut off the cities,
towns, and villages from each other. The coastal areas and cities must develop flood tolerance
and faster reorganization. Better evacuations and flood warning systems can lower the economic
losses. Ecological wisdom is essential for those living-with-floods lifestyles (Liao, Le, &
Nguyen 2016, pp. 70).
What type of material should be used to avoid floods in Kerala?
Kerala needs to rethink on its strategies and use of materials for constructing buildings
and homes. Government policymakers, the environmentalist and property developers must come

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together to build flood proof houses along the coastal areas of Kerala. Climate change is raising
sea levels, and there are plenty of examples of coastal areas that are at risk of climate-driven
flooding. The challenge lies in how to prepare people and lower the enormous impact on risk
levels. Worldwide fatalities from coastal flooding are anticipated to cross $1 trillion annually by
2050 (Daigle & Singh 2018, pp. 25). Asia’s fast-growing coastal megacities like Mumbai,
Dhaka, and Manila face severe threats in the future because of heavier rainfall, floods and storm
surges. The environment and weather extremes can put a home under siege and stress anytime.
However, one can build stronger homes that are flood and weatherproof with the use of advanced
materials and clever architecture (Murphy 2017, pp.57). For example, a strong foundation can
keep the homes safe from sinking into the ground. Vented design allows the floodwater to pass
underneath the structure of the house.
Property developers in megacities should be aware of the sea level rise and the risks
involved. Future-proof homes can be built by placing them on stilts and surrounding them with
water-absorbing gardens (Daigle & Singh 2018, pp.29). Builders must learn from the past
lessons and get better at resilient construction by using high-performance materials as well as
improved methods for construction. Modern methods and improved technologies can help build
sturdier houses. Froe example, placing anchors at the foundation stage, using advanced
weatherproof tapes and fluid-applied sealant for roofs and secure window and door protection
can undoubtedly result in a better and stronger home (Cushman, 2017). It is essential to use
water-tolerant materials when constructing the houses. A closer observation of the flood adapting
strategies by the Vietnamese’s shows them living in stilt houses. The earlier stilt houses had
thatched roofs and bamboo or wooden floors and walls. Granite and concrete stilts are getting
commoner today, and the roofs and walls are made of metal. Gaps in the floor ensure adequate

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ventilation within the house (Liao, Le, & Nguyen 2016, pp. 72). Those gaps also help to lower
the force of the flood waves during stormy weather and allow natural drainage of water.
A house should protect its occupants, even against the weather extremes. Flooding, fire,
and hurricanes often plague different parts of the world and damage dwellings and properties.
The focus must be on how to reverse the environmental and ecological damage as well as on
making stronger structures. There are essential lessons to be learned here.

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Bibliography
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Daigle, K, & Singh, M. (2018) Coastal Catastrophe. Science News, 194(4), pp. 24-29.
Faseehun, M. (2015) Kerala architecture. slideshare [online] Available from:
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