Wayanad Tragedy Shows Kerala Prone To Climate Disasters?

The number of dead in Kerala's Wayanad has risen to 293, with over 200 injured, following a series of devastating landslides in the hilly areas. A land of coffee and spice growers, Wayanad has been prone to climate disasters. Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has confirmed 240 people are missing, while more than 1,500 have been rescued from the affected areas. Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra were in Wayanad today, visiting relief camps and meeting with the affected families. Rahul Gandhi said the repeated incidents of landslides and natural calamities are extremely concerning and that a comprehensive action plan is urgently needed. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has already spoken to Mr Vijayan, and Union Minister George Kurien is at ground zero coordinating relief work driven by the centre. This crisis has also put the spotlight on how lack of oversight, timely intervention, reckless commercial activities and lack of infrastructure planning might have amplified the effect of climate change. But why is Kerala so prone to climate disasters?