Largest Disaster in 2018: Kerala Floods

India’s southern state of Kerala is suffering its worst monsoon flooding in a century, with more than one million people displaced, and more than 400 reported deaths in the past two weeks. Aid agencies and government groups have set up more than 4,000 relief camps, while rescue personnel are making their way to submerged villages in helicopters and boats, bringing supplies, and evacuating those they can find. Weeks of heavy rainfall have caused dams to open their floodgates, triggered landslides in the mountains, and swamped the coastal regions of Kerala. Only in recent days have floodwaters begun to recede, allowing more access for aid workers and rescuers.

Since heavy rain started from August 14, many districts in Kerala witnessed landslides including Kannur, Wayanad, Kozhikode and Malappuram. Low-lying regions like Munnar and Palakkad saw floods resulting in loss of life and property.

On August 15, India Meteorological Department (IMD) issued a red alert -- heavy to very heavy rainfall in most places -- for Wayanad, Kozhikode, Kannur, Kasargode, Malappuram, Palakkad, Idukki and Ernakulam districts.From then on, the condition in the state has only worsened. Of the 39 dams in Kerala, 35 have been opened to release water including the 123-year-old Mullaperiyar Dam.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, Governor P Sathasivam and Union minister KJ Alphons went for an aerial survey of the flood-affected regions in the state and announced an immediate relief of Rs 500 crore for Kerala.