Kerala declares tide flooding a State-specific disaster

Key facts

• Kerala became the first State in India to notify tide flooding as a State-specific disaster.
• The declaration enables financial assistance to victims under State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF) norms.
• Kerala has a coastline of around 590 km and nine of its 14 districts lie on the Arabian Sea coast.
• Around 10% of Kerala's population is affected by coastal flooding caused by tidal ingress.
• Severe impacts are reported in low-lying regions of Alappuzha and Ernakulam districts.
• Recurrent tidal flooding occurs in Vypin, Chellanam, Edakochi, Perumbadappu in Kochi Corporation and Kumbalanghi panchayat.
• Section 2(d) of the Disaster Management Act allows declaring tidal flooding as disaster if it causes loss of life, livelihood, and living conditions.
• Coastal high-tide flooding/sea incursion is now a notified State-specific disaster benefiting lakhs of affected people.