2018 Kerala floods facts for kids
Disaster of Kerala
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| Date | July 2018 – August 2018 |
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| Location | Kerala, India |
| Cause | Heavy rain Discharges Landslide |
| Deaths | 483 dead, 15 went missing |
| Property damage | ₹40,000 crore (US$6.8 billion) (estimated) |
In August 2018, the state of Kerala in south India faced very serious floods. This happened because of extremely heavy rainfall during the monsoon season. It was the worst flood Kerala had seen in almost 100 years.
More than 483 people sadly died, and 15 people went missing. About one million (ten lakh) people had to leave their homes. They were mainly from areas like Chengannur, Aluva, Chalakudy, and Kuttanad. All 14 districts in Kerala were put on a "red alert," meaning there was a high danger. The government of Kerala said that one out of every six people in the state was directly affected by the floods. The Indian government called it a "Level 3 Calamity," which means it was a very severe disaster. This flood was the worst since the great flood of 99 in 1924.
For the first time ever, 35 out of Kerala's 54 dams had to be opened. All five overflow gates of the Idukki Dam were opened at the same time. This had not happened in 26 years. Heavy rains in Wayanad and Idukki also caused big landslides. These landslides cut off the hilly areas. The National Crisis Management Committee kept a close watch on the situation. They also helped with rescue and relief efforts.
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What Caused the Floods?
The southwest monsoon brought much more rain than usual to Kerala in 2018. In August, the rainfall was 96% higher than normal. On August 8, Kerala received a huge amount of rain, 116% more than expected. This caused dams to fill up very quickly. In just two days, the state received 310 millimeters (about 12 inches) of rain.
Because of the heavy rain, almost all dams had to be opened. This was because the water levels were getting too high. When the dams opened, water flooded the low-lying areas nearby. Experts believe that the filling of wetlands also made the floods worse. Some also think that global warming played a part in this extreme weather.
Scientists from different universities studied the floods. They found that the main reasons were the very heavy rainfall and how the dams were managed. They said that such extreme floods were very rare. They also noted that many reservoirs were already very full even before the heaviest rains began. This meant there was less space to hold the extra water.
One report suggested that the floods were made worse by poor dam management. It said that the dams were mainly used to make electricity or for irrigation. Controlling floods was not their main purpose. The report also mentioned that water was released suddenly from many dams at the same time. This made the damage worse. However, the Kerala High Court later said that this report was not accepted.
The Government of Kerala also argued that the sudden release of water from the Mullaperiyar Dam by the Tamil Nadu government added to the floods. But the Tamil Nadu government disagreed. They said the floods were mainly due to heavy rains within Kerala and water released from Kerala's own dams.
How the Floods Affected People
The floods caused a lot of damage and hardship. Over 489 people died, 15 went missing, and 140 were taken to hospitals. Many water treatment plants stopped working, so people had trouble getting clean water.
More than 3,274 relief camps were set up to help people who lost their homes. About 1.2 million people found shelter in these camps. The floods damaged thousands of homes and destroyed about 10,000 kilometers (about 6,200 miles) of roads. The government even canceled the Onam celebrations and used the money for relief efforts instead.
Cochin International Airport, a very busy airport, had to close down until August 29 because its runway was flooded. All schools in the state were closed. Tourists were also told to avoid some areas for safety. The Kochi Metro briefly closed but then offered free rides to help people. Train services were also stopped in some areas due to high water levels.
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A flooded home at Companypady
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View of NH544 near Companypady metro station
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A flooded home on 16 August 2018
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A street flooded in Kerala
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An aerial view as seen on 16 August 2018
Rescue Efforts
Many groups worked together to rescue people during the floods.
Government Rescue Operations
The Indian government quickly started huge rescue and relief operations. They used 40 helicopters, 31 aircraft, and 500 boats. Many teams from the defense forces, NDRF, and police forces helped. They provided supplies and rescued many people.
Public and Fishermen Help
Many ordinary people also helped a lot. WhatsApp groups were used to organize help and supplies. Many citizens helped arrange food and other items.
Fishermen played a very important role. About 4,537 fishermen from Kollam and Thiruvananthapuram districts used their 669 fishing boats to rescue people. They saved over 65,000 people! The Chief Minister of Kerala, Pinarayi Vijayan, honored these brave fishermen. The government also promised to help repair their damaged boats.
Help and Money for Recovery
Many governments, organizations, and individuals gave money and help to Kerala.
Government and Organizations
- The Government of Kerala set up a website for donations. By January 2020, they had collected about 4,740 crore Indian Rupees (about 600 million US dollars) from the public.
- The Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi, announced 500 crore Indian Rupees (about 60 million US dollars) as immediate help. This was in addition to other funds already given.
- The European Union gave 1.53 million Euros (about 1.6 million US dollars) to the Indian Red Cross Society for relief.
- Countries like Maldives, Pakistan, Thailand, and Qatar also offered help and money.
- Religious groups like the Kerala Catholic Bishops' Council (KCBC) and Mata Amritanandamayi Math donated large sums of money. They also helped with relief work and building new homes.
- The Guruvayur Devaswom Board also donated money. However, a court later ruled that temple funds should be used for the temple first.
- Many other organizations, like People's Foundation and various groups from outside India, also raised money and sent volunteers.
- Many government employees and politicians across India donated part of their salaries.
- Chief Ministers from almost all other states in India also sent money and relief supplies like food, blankets, and water purifiers.
Many states in India donated money to help Kerala:
| State/union territory | Amount (in crores of Indian Rupees) |
|---|---|
| Andhra Pradesh | 10 |
| Arunachal Pradesh | 3 |
| Assam | 3 |
| Bihar | 10 |
| Chhattisgarh | 3 |
| Delhi | 10 |
| Goa | 5 |
| Gujarat | 10 |
| Haryana | 10 |
| Himachal Pradesh | 5 |
| Jharkhand | 5 |
| Karnataka | 10 |
| Madhya Pradesh | 10 |
| Maharashtra | 20 |
| Manipur | 2 |
| Meghalaya | 1 |
| Mizoram | 2 |
| Nagaland | 1 |
| Odisha | 10 |
| Puducherry | 1 |
| Punjab | 5 |
| Rajasthan | 10 |
| Tamil Nadu | 10 |
| Telangana | 25 |
| Tripura | 1 |
| Uttar Pradesh | 15 |
| Uttarakhand | 5 |
| West Bengal | 10 |
| Total | 212 |
Housing Projects
Many organizations helped build or repair homes for those who lost them:
| Organization | What they did | Money spent (in crores of Indian Rupees) |
|---|---|---|
| Act On | 300 houses | 6 |
| Changanassery Social Service Society (CHASS) | Renovated 1000 houses, built water storage and purification systems | 100 |
| Federation of Malayalee Associations of Americas – FOMAA | 250 houses | |
| Joy Alukkas | 250 new houses | 15 |
| KCARE (Kerala Cooperative Alliance to Rebuild Kerala) | Renovated/built 1500 houses | 75 |
| Kerala Catholic Bishops' Council(KCBC) with Caritas India | Built 2620 new houses, renovated 6630 damaged houses, built latrines and wells | 250 |
| Muslim Jamaath | Rebuilt 1000 damaged houses | 50 |
| Muthoot Group | 200 new houses | 10 |
| Peoples Foundation | Built 305 houses, renovated 888 houses, and started 34 drinking water projects | 25 |
Companies and Individuals
Many companies and famous people also donated.
- Dr. Azad Moopen donated 2.5 crore Indian Rupees to the relief fund and another 12.5 crore for rebuilding homes.
- Major oil companies like BPCL and IOCL together donated 25 crore Indian Rupees.
- Reliance Foundation donated 21 crore Indian Rupees and relief materials worth 50 crore.
- The Adani Group committed 2 crore Indian Rupees for relief and rebuilding.
- Star India and 21st Century Fox donated 5 crore Indian Rupees.
- Canara Bank donated 5.01 crore Indian Rupees and 10 tonnes of rice.
- Many Bollywood actors like Sushant Singh Rajput, Shah Rukh Khan, and Akshay Kumar contributed.
- UAE-based Indian businesses donated a total of 18.85 crore Indian Rupees.
- Indian cricket team captain, Virat Kohli, and his team donated their match fees.
Drought After the Flood
Just a few days after the huge floods, Kerala faced another problem: a severe drought. Water levels in wells, ponds, and rivers dropped very low. Some wells even collapsed. The Chief Minister asked scientists to study why this happened and find solutions.
Experts explained that the heavy floods washed away the top layer of soil in hilly areas. This soil usually helps soak up rainwater. When it was gone, the hills could not hold water as well. Also, rivers carried away sand and rocks, which made their water levels drop. Since rivers and groundwater are connected, the groundwater levels also fell. This problem was made worse by deforestation, poor land use, and sand mining.
More About Kerala Floods
- Other Kerala floods
- Great flood of 99
- 2019 Kerala floods
- 2020 Kerala floods
