Climate change has been a reality before us at least for the past five years. Until then, climate change and global warming were a distant phenomenon, but now they are a direct experience for us. Often, we become the direct victims of climate change. Over the past seven years, even the small state of Kerala has witnessed seven major natural disasters. From the devastating floods of 2018, which claimed more than 480 lives, to last year’s landslide disaster in Mundakkai and Chooralmala, these major calamities make it clear that the months of July and August are the most disaster-prone period for Kerala. Outside Kerala, snowfall, heatwaves, flash floods and other natural disasters are reported daily. In this regard, India is reporting at least one extreme weather event per day, says the report ‘Climate India 2025’ published by the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE). It seems that this report should prompt reflection on the new habits and policies that the state and the government need to adopt in the context of the changing climate.
‘Climate India 2025’ is a detailed study of extreme weather events reported in the country during the 275-day period from January 2025 to 30 September 2025. Out of these, 270 days saw reports of extreme and unseasonable weather events in the country. More than 4,000 people lost their lives in these disasters, and 9.5 million hectares of crops were destroyed. In the previous year, these figures were 3,238 deaths and 3.2 million hectares respectively. A review of the figures for the past ten years shows that the number of severe weather days and the impact of disasters are increasing every year. The figures also show that 15 people die every day in India due to weather-related disasters. Although no floods have been reported in Kerala this year, 112 people have died in Kerala during this monsoon. This is higher than last year's, if we exclude the Chooralmala-Mundakai disaster. The situation in other states is no different. These unpredictable waves of natural disasters are even overturning traditional weather science. In the past, we could predict our weather quite accurately. In the case of the monsoon in Kerala, the monsoon season from June to September and the subsequent monsoon season were fairly balanced and predictable. However, that is not the case now, as the monsoon arrived ten days early this time. Often, the months of June and July have cloudless skies, and the months that follow turn into periods of intense rain. This difference in rainfall distribution is responsible for floods and landslides. The same is true for the heatwave in central India. The impact of disasters has also intensified because the changing weather conditions could not be anticipated in advance and systematic prevention could not be established.
It is pertinent at this stage to review what the authorities are doing to combat climate change. The systems initiated by the Meteorological Department and the Disaster Management Authority have not been upgraded to cope with the new climate conditions. It is estimated that more than a hundred people die every year due to heatwaves. However, in our country, heatwaves are still not recognised as a natural disaster. The only reason the Wayanad landslide disaster could not be declared a national disaster is that the system has not been updated. The problem here is not only with the systems; it has also to do with the frenzied politics that control those systems. No one would have forgotten the central government’s approach towards the Wayanad disaster. Kerala, which had requested Rs 2,200 crore for the rehabilitation of thousands of people in Wayanad, was allowed a meagre Rs 260.56 crore. While this was the share of Kerala, Rs 4,645 crore was approved in total for Assam, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Chhattisgarh and Andhra Pradesh. The high-level committee headed by Union Home Minister Amit Shah approved Rs 2,160 crore for BJP-ruled Assam. It should be remembered that not even one-tenth of the disasters reported in Kerala have been reported in Assam. The report presented by the Home Ministry in Parliament yesterday also reveals that this discrimination exists in this year’s SDRF proposal. While Assam was given Rs 751 crore, Kerala got only Rs 306 crore. It is not just Kerala that is affected. The report reveals that the central government is obstructing disaster relief operations in all states ruled by parties other than BJP. In short, the government’s frenzied politics has become a greater disaster than the weather disaster.