Kerala landslide: A look at India's recent extreme weather events
India has been facing a series of severe weather conditions in recent years, including torrential rain, floods, droughts, and cyclones. On Tuesday, a devastating landslide hit Wayanad district, Kerala, claiming the lives of at least 148 people as it ravaged tea estates and residential areas. A hundred others are feared trapped under the debris, even as rescue operations continue. Over the last few years, India has witnessed extreme weather patterns. Let's take a look at some of them.
Extreme weather in New Delhi, Mumbai
In June, New Delhi experienced heavy rainfall after weeks of extreme heat leading to flooding. The heavy rains led to the collapse of the roof of Terminal-1 of Delhi's Indira Gandhi International Airport, which killed one person and injured several others. More recently, last week, three students drowned after being trapped in a flooded basement after heavy rains in the city. In May, Mumbai experienced thunderstorms that led to the collapse of a billboard, resulting in at least 14 fatalities.
Kerala landslide: Search operations continue
Monsoon mayhem in Assam, Tamil Nadu
Assam also experienced severe flooding in July as several rivers overflowed due to seasonal monsoon rains. The floods and subsequent landslides claimed at least 79 lives and displaced thousands of residents. Over 150 animals, including rare one-horned rhinoceroses, died in Assam's Kaziranga National Park. In December 2023, Tamil Nadu was hit by a severe cyclone following torrential rains and flooding that resulted in at least 13 deaths.
Floods and landslides in Sikkim, Uttarakhand
Sikkim experienced its worst floods in over 50 years when a Himalayan glacial lake burst its banks due to heavy rains in October 2023, resulting in the death of 179 people. Homes and bridges were destroyed by the floodwaters. In February 2021, a landslide near Uttarakhand's second highest peak triggered flash floods that swept away two hydroelectric projects, leaving more than 200 dead.
