The Meteorological Department has warned that heavy rains will continue in Kerala for two more days. As another low-pressure area may form over the Bay of Bengal, there is a high possibility of heavy rain and wind till the 31st. This is a time to be alert and be prepared for accidents. More than a dozen people have lost their lives in Kerala in accidents caused by heavy rains. Deaths and casualties occur due to accidents caused by falling tree branches, shock, falling into streams due to strong currents, and collapse of houses. There is also a risk of mudflows and landslides in the hilly areas. There is concern that Kerala, which has survived two floods, will have to face another one.

Kerala is a land where many places can be submerged even with a little rain, whether it is a city or a village. The increasing number of structures that obstruct the flow of water is one of the biggest challenges facing urban areas in Kerala. The allegation that the severity of the floods in the past was increased due to the opening of dams without warning still remains unanswered. Experts had also found that the severity of the floods in 2018 was increased due to the lapses in managing the water level in the dams. Therefore, the government should take steps, including opening dams, only after giving a clear warning to the people or after evacuating them from dangerous places.

The losses caused by the monsoons to the agricultural crops in the state of Kerala are not small. Even the compensation for those who lost their crops in the last flood has not been fully paid yet. The repeated lapses in estimating the loss of agricultural crops are always a cause for complaints from farmers. This is also an occasion when the banks that have given loans to farmers should understand these situations and take a helpful stance. Another misery faced by the people is the constant power outages due to falling trees during the monsoon. It is also worth noting that the employees of the KSEB, Fire Force and Disaster Management Force are standing by their work even during this monsoon. The government should also consider delaying the opening of schools in the state by at least a week if the rains continue with such intensity.

The nature and patterns of rainfall are changing every year. Areas like Kuttanad, which used to withstand any rain in Kerala, are now proving to be unsuitable for permanent habitation. The number of places where natural displacement is taking place is also increasing. It is a sad reality that there is still no clear planning and coordination here to carry out the cleaning, tree combing, road maintenance, gutter cleaning, etc. that should be done before the rainy season after considering all the above-mentioned factors. It is imperative to conduct a scientific study on this by a committee of experts and form a permanent system to resolve such matters efficiently before the rainy season at least after the current rainy season is over.