The story so far: Kerala has declared that flooding caused by tidal rise along the extensive coastline of the State, adversely affecting the coastal community and resulting in loss of life and livelihood, can be considered a State-specific disaster. A government order in this regard declared that financial assistance, similar to that provided to victims of natural disasters under State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF), will be given to victims of floods caused by tidal rise. This is the first time in the country that a State has declared tidal flooding a State-specific disaster.
What is tidal flooding affecting Kerala?
It is a common phenomenon along Kerala’s coastline, where the Arabian Sea level temporarily rises above an identified threshold for a brief period, inundating low-lying coastal areas. Unlike cyclone-induced storm surges, tidal flooding happens twice in a day and is more severe during full or new moons. The issue becomes more complex when coastal storms, triggered by meteorological conditions, coincide with high tides, increasing both the depth and extent of coastal flooding. This type of flooding is particularly a concern in the coastline of nine coastal districts of Kerala, where spring tides can also join to make things worse.
