Exploring the Impact and Lessons of the 2019 Kavalappara Landslide Disasters in Kerala, India: A Field Observation Analysis
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Abstract
Kerala, a state in India, stretches approximately 560 kilometres in a northwest-to-south-southeast direction and ranges in width from 35 to 120 kilometres in the east-west dimension. This area is known for its frequent occurrences of landslides. It features a distinctive physiographic and geomorphic landscape characterized by the prominent Western Ghats Mountains running in an NNW-SSE orientation in the east. These mountains are surrounded by a series of parallel landforms, including composite slopes, marginally raised lateritic uplands, and coastal plains that gradually descend in elevation towards the west, creating a terraced topography. Kerala receives substantial annual rainfall during the southwest monsoon season, which, due to its unique geomorphic setup, can lead to catastrophic landslides. As a result, this study extensively examined the region's geomorphology, primarily influenced by tectonic forces, to gain insights into its contribution to landslide occurrences. The Western Ghats in India has long been a focal point for landslide research. On August 8, 2019, Kavalappara witnessed one of the most devastating landslides in the state's history in terms of casualties. Beyond the tragic loss of 59 lives, it wrought unparalleled havoc upon the local community's assets and means of sustenance. This colossal landslide struck around 7:30 pm in Kavalappara, engulfing 100 acres of land. The primary catalyst for this immense disaster was the erratic and unprecedented deluge of monsoon rainfall. Our discerning observations underscore the role of human activities in exacerbating slope instability. Factors such as the transformation of natural vegetation into plantations, the hasty cutting of slopes, the installation of soak pits diverting water into the slopes, the construction of residences atop natural drainage channels, and suboptimal drainage practices, including the unregulated release of water from homes onto the slopes, have all been influential in heightening slope vulnerability.
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