A malking landslide has yet again brought home the need for reconciling development with ecological sustainability in one of the serene districts of Wayanad, located in Kerala, India. The calamity has come with forces so terrifying that it is altogether destroying everything in its wake, displacing thousands, and provoking statewide emergency responses. It underlines the perils of ignoring the ecological carrying capacity of the region.
Kerala’s Response and the National Stance
After all, the Kerala government has declared this landslide as a state disaster. The declaration of disaster by the Union government as a national disaster has not been made. Political debate erupted over the matter, and many parties have been demanding greater recognition and central support. Such a declaration at the state level will just pave the way for accelerated relief operations and rush resources to the affected areas.
Human Toll and Heroic Efforts
The human impact of the landslide is huge. Entire communities have been uprooted, with many families seeking refuge in relief camps. The response from local and national agencies has been robust, with over a thousand rescuers, including personnel from the Indian Navy, working tirelessly to find survivors and provide aid. Their struggles have been instrumental in constructing an infrastructure, like a Bailey bridge, to join inaccessible areas and thus facilitate the transportation of relief supplies.
One of the many heroic stories from the disaster comes as the courage of the forest officers in rescuing a tribal family from a remote cave. This precarious mission depicted hazardous terrain and inclement weather, thus showing how resilient rescuers are in their operations.
Ecological Sensitivity and Future Planning
The landslide has brought into the limelight the question of ecological sensitivity in the Western Ghats. A draft notification from the Centre speaks of declaring almost 36% of the Western Ghats as an ecologically sensitive area, including substantial parts of Wayanad. This move, while recognizing the need to protect the environment, bans commercial activities, thus underlining the imperative of sustainable development practices.
Struggles in Relief Camps and Mental Health Support
This is apart from the challenges of being in relief camps, survivors struggling to cope with loss of homes and dear ones. Here, the state government has formed a Mental Health Disaster Management team that extends psychosocial support. It is actually recognition of the fact that such disasters generally exact an emotional cost on individuals and communities.
Community Solidarity and Support
The landslide has also evoked an overwhelming, yet commendable, response from all parts of Kerala and even beyond. Donations and other forms of help came in—from the big contributions to small, yet symbolic, gestures like that by the Kollam teaseller who contributed her savings for the cause. These gestures are important in any recovery phase by providing material and emotional support to the affected.
The tragedy in Wayanad is certainly a grim reminder about the respect one should accord to the boundaries set by nature in matters of development. How much the policies on environment sustainability and disaster preparedness will be seriously implemented is very important to be seen on one’s way to recover from the worst. Resilience in those communities, coupled with determined rescuers and even a broader support network, gives hope for recovery and underscores proper balance in development in such ecologically sensitive regions.
Photo Credit: Indian Army
