On 16 August 2018, severe floods affected the south Indian state Kerala, due to unusually heavy rainfall during the monsoon season. It was the worst flood in Kerala in nearly a century since the great flood of '99 that took place in 1924. Over 483 people died, and about one million people were evacuated, mainly from Chengannur, Pandanad, Edanad, Aranmula, Kozhencherry, Ayiroor, Ranni, Pandalam, Kuttanad, Malappuram, Aluva, Chalakudy, Thrissur, Thiruvalla, Eraviperoor, Vallamkulam, North Paravur, Chendamangalam, Chellanam, Vypin Island, and Palakkad. All 14 districts of the state were placed on red alert. According to the Kerala government, one-sixth of the total population of Kerala was directly affected by the floods and related incidents. The Indian government declared it a Level 3 Calamity, or "calamity of a severe nature".
Thirty-five out of the fifty-four dams within the state were opened for the first time in history. All five overflow gates of the Idukki Dam were opened at the same time, and for the first time in 26 years, five gates of the Malampuzha dam of Palakkad were opened. Heavy rains in Wayanad and Idukki caused severe landslides and left the hilly districts isolated. The National Crisis Management Committee coordinated the rescue and relief operations. The dam openings disrupted the lives of many of those living nearby.
With the recurrence of flood events in the state in the subsequent years, several studies have attempted to explain the behavior.
On 16 August 2018, severe floods affected the south Indian state Kerala, due to unusually heavy rainfall during the monsoon season. It was the worst flood in Kerala in nearly a century since the great flood of '99 that took place in 1924. Over 483 people died, and about one million people were evacuated, mainly from Chengannur, Pandanad, Edanad, Aranmula, Kozhencherry, Ayiroor, Ranni, Pandalam, Kuttanad, Malappuram, Aluva, Chalakudy, Thrissur, Thiruvalla, Eraviperoor, Vallamkulam, North Paravur, Chendamangalam, Chellanam, Vypin Island, and Palakkad. All 14 districts of the state were placed on red alert. According to the Kerala government, one-sixth of the total population of Kerala was directly affected by the floods and related incidents. The Indian government declared it a Level 3 Calamity, or "calamity of a severe nature".
Thirty-five out of the fifty-four dams within the state were opened for the first time in history. All five overflow gates of the Idukki Dam were opened at the same time, and for the first time in 26 years, five gates of the Malampuzha dam of Palakkad were opened. Heavy rains in Wayanad and Idukki caused severe landslides and left the hilly districts isolated. The National Crisis Management Committee coordinated the rescue and relief operations. The dam openings disrupted the lives of many of those living nearby.
With the recurrence of flood events in the state in the subsequent years, several studies have attempted to explain the behavior.
Causes
Rainfall from the southwest monsoon was 23% higher than normal in Kerala in 2018, with August seeing rainfall 164% above normal. On the evening of 8 August, Kerala received heavy rainfall which was 116% more than usual, resulting in dams filling to their maximum capacities. In the proceeding 48 hours, the state received 310 mm (12 in) of rain. Almost all dams had been opened since the water had risen close to overflow levels due to heavy rainfall, which flooded local low-lying areas. For the first time in the state's history, 35 of its 54 dams had been opened. The deluge is considered an impact of global warming.
Independent scientific studies conducted by hydrology experts from IIT Madras, Purdue University, and IIT Gandhinagar concluded that heavy downpour and dam management resulted in the floods. Based on a computer simulation of flood storage and flow patterns by a team of researchers from IIT Madras and Purdue University, it was found that the devastation wrought by the floods cannot be attributed to the release of water from dams. Further, the scientists added that the odds of such floods were 0.06% and no reservoir management could have considered such scenarios. A hydrology expert, researcher from IIT Gandhinagar, Vimal Mishra, identified four major factors for the floods: unexpected above-normal downpour, extreme rainfall events occurring almost across Kerala during the season, over 90% reservoir storage even before the onset of extreme rainfall events, and the unprecedented extreme rainfall in the catchment areas of major reservoirs in the state.
The prime reason for the anomalous rainfall in 2018 is the high-frequency mixed Rossby-gravity waves in the mid-troposphere triggered by the synoptic disturbances of the tropical Pacific. These high-frequency waves manifested as cyclonic and anticyclonic circulations and dilated the wind field to establish zones of convection in the tropics, as they propagated across the Indian Ocean basin. Although the Madden–Julian oscillation phase with 20-to-40-day period has favored convection in the tropics, the high-frequency mode correlates better with the anomalous precipitation during the intervals of extreme events.
Expert bodies like the Central Water Commission have corroborated the findings by scientists from IIT Madras, Purdue University and IIT Gandhinagar.
A report by Adv. Jacob P. Alex, an advisor appointed by the Kerala high court, alleged that the devastating floods of 2018 were the result of bad dam management by the state government. All 79 dams in the state were maintained with the objective to generate hydroelectricity or irrigation and controlling flooding wasn't their purpose. "The major concern of the dam operators was to maximise reservoir levels, which conflicted with the flood control purpose for which the dams could be utilised. The 'flood cushion' of reservoirs – the storage space earmarked in dams to absorb unanticipated high flows – needed review as per the latest guidelines," Alex wrote in his report. "Sudden release of water simultaneously from different reservoirs, during extreme rainfall aggravated the damage," it said, adding that various alerts—blue, orange and red—had been issued not in accordance with the EAP guideline. "No proper follow-up action and effective precautionary steps (especially for evacuating people and accommodating them in safe location) were taken after issuance of Red Alert," it said. As of August 2024, the high court of Kerala had not accepted the report.
The government of Kerala argued in the Supreme Court that the sudden release of water from the Mullaperiyar Dam by the Tamil Nadu government was one of the reasons for the devastating flood in Kerala. The Tamil Nadu government rejected the argument, saying that Kerala suffered the deluge due to the discharge of excess water from 80 reservoirs across Kerala, spurred by heavy rains from within the state; It also argued that the flood surplus from the Idukki Dam was due mainly to the flows generated from its own independent catchment due to unprecedented heavy rainfall, while the discharge from the Mullaperiyar dam was significantly less.
Impact
Over 483-500 people died, 15 are missing and 140 were hospitalized, while The Economic Times reported that 33,000 people were rescued. The Kerala State Disaster Management Authority had placed the state on red alert as a result of the intense flooding. A number of water treatment plants were forced to cease pumping water, resulting in poor access to clean water, especially in northern districts of the state. Over 3,274 relief camps were opened at various locations to accommodate the flood victims. It is estimated by the National Disaster Management Authority that 1,247,496 people found shelter in such camps. The flooding affected hundreds of villages, destroyed an estimated 10,000 km (6,200 mi) of roads, and thousands of homes have were damaged or destroyed. The government cancelled Onam celebrations and reallocated the funds to relief efforts.
On 12 August, Cochin International Airport, India's fourth busiest in terms of international traffic and the busiest in the state, suspended all operations until 29 August, following runway flooding. All schools throughout the state were closed, and tourists were dissuaded or prohibited from some districts due to safety concerns. The Kochi Metro closed briefly on 16 August, and later offered free services to aid those affected by the flooding. Due to heavy rain and rising water levels the southern railway suspended train services on the Thiruvananthapuram-Kottayam-Ernakulam and Ernakulam-Shoranur-Palakkad sections.
Rescue Operations
Government
Government launched a large search and rescue operation that included aircraft, boats, rescue and medical teams, and police. The government provided supplies to those who needed help and conducted many rescue operations.
Public
WhatsApp groups sprung up as control centers that coordinated help and support across various areas. Many people volunteered to deliver supplies and materials, or donated money.
Rescue operation by fishermen
According to the government, a total of 4,537 fishermen communities from Kollam and Thiruvananthapuram districts participated in the rescue operation with 669 fishing boats. They managed to rescue more than 65,000 people from various districts. Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan honoured the fishermen. Fisheries Minister J. Mercykutty Amma said that the government would provide financial aid to repair the fishing boats which were damaged in the rescue operations while new ones will be provided for those boats which were completely destroyed. According to estimates, seven boats were completely destroyed, while 452 were partially destroyed.
Relief and monetary aid
Government, NGOs and NPOs
The Government of Kerala started a donation website for flood victims. As of 7 January 2020, approximately ₹4,740 crore (US$639.68 million) was collected from the public including organisations, corporate firms and famous personalities.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced a sum of ₹500 crore (US$73.11 million) as interim relief for Kerala on 18 August 2018. This is in addition to ₹562.45 crore (US$82.24 million) already made available in SDRF of the State and ₹100 crore (US$14.62 million) announced on 12 August 2018 by the Home Minister. The central government also said in its press release that this ₹600 crore (US$87.73 million) is only the advance assistance and that additional funds will be released by the NDRF when an inter-ministerial team visits again and assesses the damage. The central government, in one of the largest rescue operations, deployed 40 helicopters, 31 aircraft, 500 boats, 182 rescue teams and 18 medical teams of defence forces, 58 teams of NDRF and 7 companies of Central Armed Police Forces. Together they saved over 60,000 human lives.
The European Union announced an assistance of ₹1.53 crore (€140,000) in aid funding to the Indian Red Cross Society for providing relief to flood-affected people in Kerala.
The Governments of Maldives, Pakistan, Thailand and Qatar extended condolences and offered humanitarian assistance and monetary aid.
In a gesture of solidarity with the State government's flood relief efforts, the Kerala Catholic Bishops' Council (KCBC) donated ₹1 crore (US$146,221.28) to the Chief Minister's Distress Relief Fund. KCBC President and Archbishop of Thiruvananthapuram Latin Archdiocese, Bishop Dr. Soosa Pakiam, presented the contribution to the Chief Minister's office. The Archbishop also mentioned that Caritas India, the social service wing of CBCI, along with the Catholic Churches of Kerala is undertaking special relief projects like housing to aid the victims.
The KCBC in its Winter Session reviewed that as of December 2018 the Catholic Churches of Kerala has spent ₹164 crore (US$23.98 million) for flood reliefs and that 36.5 acres of land was mobilized for the landless with the cooperation of various dioceses and its religious congregations. The Winter session reviewed rehabilitation progress the Church is carrying out for the flood victims.
Mata Amritanandamayi Math donated ₹10 crore (US$1.46 million) to the Kerala Chief Minister's Distress Relief Fund, in addition to providing relief materials and helping in rescue operations.
The Guruvayur Devaswom Board donated ₹5 crore (US$731,106.38) to the Chief Minister's Distress Relief Fund (CMDRF). However, on a case filed by its devotee, the Kerala High Court, in December 2020, ruled that the ₹10 crore (US$1.42 million) the state government received from the board (including donations from 2018 and 2019 floods) should be returned. The court argued that temple funds should prioritize the development of the shrine and its allied services. The Guruvayur Devaswom Board challenged this decision in the Supreme Court, which has ordered a status quo on the matter until further review.
37,000 volunteers from the People's Foundation, an NGO based in Calicut, with the support of Ideal Relief Wing Kerala cleaned 11,139 houses and conducted 494 relief camps for flood victims.
A fundraising campaign started via the Federation of Malayalee Associations of Americas (FOMAA) 2018–2020 leadership, later migrating to Facebook procured over 260 donors from across the world and was able to raise enough money to build more than forty homes and dedicate various villages across districts of Kerala.
A fundraising campaign started on Facebook by charitable organisations Knanaya Catholic Yuvajanavedhi of Chicago and Care and Share along with a person named Arun Simon Nellamattom and others raised and donated US$1.6 million to Kerala Chief Minister's Distress Relief Fund.
IsraAid, an Israeli NGO sent relief workers to distribute supplies and assess needs for clean water, sanitation, and psychological care.
Many Members of Parliament, Members of State Legislative Assemblies and Councils, civil servants and Government employees across the country have also donated their one month's salary and/or allowances towards Kerala Chief Minister's Distress Relief Fund.
Chief Ministers of all the states (and Delhi) pledged monetary aid from their respective state funds in addition to dispatch of various relief materials such as potable water, blankets, packed food, rice, water-purifying machines, daily-use and healthcare products. Monetary contributions are listed below: