Kerala after floods 2018

Kerala after floods – New Kerala

Its a questions galore on Kerala now

• Is Kerala safe after floods ?
• Is Munnar Safe?
• Is Wayanad Safe?
• Is Thekkady safe?
• Is Alappuzha Safe?

These are the questions which arose in the mind of any tourists who has Kerala in mind as his/her next destination. With mixed bag of information online and scuttled drag in reaching out the factual information on the current status of Kerala post floods it was essential to come out with a clear crisp documented write up and this is our effort to clear the air.

Kerala before floods 2018

Kerala known for its beauty, people, cultural fabric, festivals, backwaters and more. For those who want to learn more detailed information can be accessed from our primary portals of Kerala Government &   Kerala Tourism. Kerala was Gods own country before floods untouched, safe and secure. Everything changed overnight one fine day in mid august.

Kerala Monsoon  2018

Monsoon commenced in June with normal rainfall and prediction of heavy rainfall coming in after that. Noramlly rains in Kerala gather intensity in June – July and starts dwindling by August- September; but this year it was to be different. Kerala was in the peak of monsoons with heavy rains lashing the state even in August with water levels rising in the rivers and dams. Kerala Tourism was upbeat with the expectation of tourists flow due to an extended weeked – alas it was not to be so. 15th August our Independence day – but it turned out to be the day when the nature turned its fury against Kerala and Gods own country was demonised for the next 14 days.

Kerala floods 2018

The biggest ever catashtrophe of the centuary hit Kerala – The great floods of 2018 lashed Kerala. For 2 weeks floods brought in a devastation of scales unlike ever before which submerged most of Kerala, brought in massive land slides and brought life to a standstill.  Kerala was cut off from rest of the world as air, rail and road traffic was completly hit. The flow of water was unbelievable and rushing in from everywhere with intensity unlike ever before. The media was abuzz with floods and Kerala became a global news, unfortunatly with negative news.

Humanity exists

The largest ever relief and rescue operation began at a lighting speed. The goverment,  beaurocracy,  politicians, defence forces, police and fire force and the masses joined hands to rescue people. Fishing boats, helicopters, massive trucks and a unknown no of volunteers came in together to create no.of temporary camps and  to rescue people. Our Chief Minister did the daily review from his war room in the morning and evening with the key officials to assess the situation and to execute orders and the team at the ground level went about the implementation.

Those who could not join, worked round the clock to prepare food for unknown people, delivering it and doing other cordination works. Visual media and radio channels became emergency helpline centres with toll free nos to receive calls and help people in distress, transmitting it live to the ground rescue teams to rescue stranded people saving many a lives.

All organizations worked on the sidelines to do its best and the real face of humanity was visible in every act that took place in the midst of this rescue.

Initiatives by Goverment of Kerala and private bodies

Chief ministers Disaster Relief Fund ( CMDRF) was set up and the contributions started pouring in. Google chipped in to help the stranded by launching the  Google Person Finder whereby people stuck in a place due to floods can generate and share their location without the need for an internet connection so that the rescue teams can locate and reach them. The tourism associations quickly joined hands to constitute a volunteer group by the name Kerala Tourism Task Force ( KTTF)  to coordinate the relief, rescue and rehabilitation efforts. Innumerous other associations, NGO’s, self help groups and plethora of volunteers worked on the sidelines for a quicky recovery

Biggest Responsible Tourism initiative by Kerala

Knowingly or unwknowingly what transpired after that was nothing less than a miracle and we are proud to say that it is the biggest example of responsible tourism in kerala and exhibition of selfless act of tourism fraternity’s teamwork.  Hotels, resorts and houseboats became temporary shelters. Help poured in from across the world in the form of money, relief and rescue materials as destination specific assocations , state level, national level and international tourism organizations joined hands.

Once the primary focus of rescue was over and the relief works kicked in as the flood waters started receding. This is normally a very testing, tiring and painful time with people coming to terms with life after shock, scare of diseases and psychological issues, loss of near and dear ones, loss of house and assets and more.

Stories of people, villages & communities 

There are many stories in this saga that lasted only 2 weeks with many left trails and tales some of which is known and many would remain unknown. Stories of rescue by the fishermen community, defence forces, beaureaucrats who went beyond call of duty. Good samaritans who exemplified and redefined volunteer work. Stories of pregnant ladies delivering after air rescue. Stories of people helping out other when they were in distress. Stories which will come put in the due course.

Health Scare in Kerala

Epidemic is the natural follow up after any devastation of this scale and we did have our share of Leptospirosis , Dengue and Malaria.  But our super men and super women as beaureaucrats and medical professionals worked day and night to strictly monitor and contain all possibilities to kill its oubreak. These angels got together when a bigger health scare in the form of NIPHA virus hit Kerala and contained it. We had faith in them and then ensured that they stand out and possible epidemic was contained and controlled.

Kerala after floods 2018

Waters have receded and the rehabiltation works are in progress with people getting back to their homes. Mending homes and life is on a fast track with govt and massess supporting ; however it would take years to wounds to heal. Kerala Tourism restarted after the floods in the form of Volunteer Tourism with people coming in from diffrent parts of the country and world. With volunteers assisting in rebuilding homes and  the water receding quickly Kerala was bouncing back to normalcy.

Kochi airport was open and back in operation from 29th August, railway connectivity was restored and road connectivity with other states was restored by 5th September. All internal roads hit by floods and landslides were opened to traffic. It will take few months to be completly back to normal but for now 90% of hindrances have been cleared and would be fully operational in a months time.

Kerala Tourism after floods

All destinations in Kerala except Munnar was open to public by 1st September 2018; eventually Munnar too was opened and declared safe to travel from 5th September 2018 which meant Kerala Tourism was back in action. But the news dessipation of the resurgnce is slow and people are still of the opinion that Kerala is not safe to travel and there is a health risk, yet again hitting the flow of tourists. The writer sincerely hopes that this blog helps in giving the correct picture as on today to help the prospective travellers who have booked or are wanting to book to make informed decisions.

Facts & Post flood scenario in Kerala as on 10th September 2018

• Kerala is safe to travel.
• Kochi Airport is fully operational.
• All hotels and resorts in Kerala are fully functional.
• Houseboats in Alappuzha are fully operating.
• All destinations and sightseeing places are open to guests.
• Roads from Kochi to Munnar To Thekkady to Alappuzha To Kovalam are fully operational.
• Kerala health department has contained and controlled all diseases post flood.

Road condition in Kerala after flood

• Kochi to Munnar road is open and safe with some congestion points
• Munnar to Thekkady road is open and safe with some congestion points
• Thekkady to Alappuzha road  is open and safe.
• Thekkady to Madurai road is open and safe
• Alappuzha to Kovalam road is open and safe.
• Kochi to Kozhikkode road is open and safe.
• Kozhikkode to Wayanad road is open and safe
• Wayanad to Bangalore road is open and safe.

What New Kerala has to offer to Tourists

• Floods was devastating but it left a cleansing effect and Kerala looks even more beautiful now.
• All destinations look fresh and revamped.
• Off season rates have been extended till October by many hotels and resorts.
• Neelakurunji the flower that blooms once in 12 yrs has started flowering in Munnar.
• Most of the hotels have withdrawn Pooja Supplements and Diwali supplement.
• New destination – Jatayu Earths Centre has been launched.
• LTC to Kerala has been proposed and it is likely to be approved soon

As we are rebuilding Kerala and we look forward to the new breed of tourists – the Responsible Tourist – to contribute to the growth of Kerala by visiting Kerala and making Kerala the destination of the year. Would you like to be one?

Ask us for Kerala Tour Packages just like before and join the cause of rebuilding New Kerala.

News resources

• First charter from Australia after floods arrives 16th September
• A sand strip emerges in the sea post floods
• Kerala Flood heroes
• Hand of God in Munnar

Kerala Tourism Facebook live videos after Kerala flood