Kerala Floods: A disaster triggered by nature; caused by humans
The deluge that has embattled Kerala and thrown daily life into mayhem doesn't know of any precedents in atleast the last hundred years. The scathing disaster has been met with an equally emphatic response: both from the state authorities and the people of India. We have seen exemplary compassion pouring in from every province in India. Yet, there lingers the fundamental question: Could the disaster have been averted? The turn of events in this scenario broadly highlights that though this was a disaster triggered by nature, it was caused by man. We have empirical data which suggests that it wasn't the heavy downpour alone, but it's deadly communion with man made factors like rampant construction, mining and hydroelectric power projects, that culminated into the worst disaster to hit Kerala in a century. Worst ever in terms of economic and psychological damage done. To corroborate this accusation, we must look back - not just months, but years - to 2010, when the call to sav