Proceedings of the Symposium on Landslides in Kerala 2018

Kerala experienced one of its worst disasters in nearly a century in August 2018, with floods and landslides causing significant losses. The state, located along the Western Ghats and the sea coast, is highly vulnerable to natural hazards due to its dense population and unique geography. The 2018 floods resulted in 435 casualties, affected over 5.4 million people, and caused widespread damage, including 341 major landslides across 10 districts.
.
The symposium highlighted Kerala's susceptibility to various natural hazards, including floods, landslides, cyclones, and coastal erosion. The state's disaster management is complicated by factors such as high population density, inadequate land use regulations, and limited disaster risk information. The Kerala State Disaster Management Authority (KSDMA) has taken steps to improve disaster risk management, including releasing landslide and flood susceptibility maps and promoting risk-informed planning. However, challenges persist due to limited infrastructure, inadequate information sharing, and the need for better coordination among agencies.
.
The proceedings emphasize the need for enhanced preparedness and risk-informed development planning. Despite having a legal framework in place under the Disaster Management Act 2005, compliance and implementation remain limited. The KSDMA has been working to build awareness and a scientific evidence base for risk-informed planning, but more needs to be done to address the state's high vulnerability to natural disasters. The symposium also acknowledges the resilience of the Kerala community and the role of technology and social media in supporting rescue operations during the 2018 floods.