ABSTRACT
Kerala floods in August 2018 killed over 483 people and 15 people went missing. A situational analysis based on secondary data was undertaken. It is very evident that there was a severe disruption to people’s lives and severe damage to the public infrastructure. Many people suffered from psychological as well as physical health problems. Four suicide cases were reported caused by the floods. There was a high risk of disease outbreak such as leptospirosis and dengue. The state received a heavy monsoon rainfall which was 256 percent more than the usual rainfall on 8 August 2018, which resulted dams filling to maximum capacity. Thirty-five out of 54 dams were opened for the first time in history. The destruction of homes, loss of personal possessions and displacement due to severe landslides had a strong emotional impact on the people. Kerala received a strong flow of remittances from all over the world to the Chief Ministers Disaster Relief Fund. Kerala’s Health Department worked with the National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences (NIMHANS) in Bangalore to train 16,671 volunteers to provide psychosocial first aid to people experiencing disaster-related stress. Kerala is known for its progressive social development, literacy, digital literacy, vibrant media and active community, and these will help it to rebuild a more resilient and efficient community. There should be effective policies to protect the environment and to build resilience in society.
