-The Hindu There should be space for greater storage of water in reservoirs before the onset of monsoon In the aftermath of any tragedy, people struggle to comprehend what happened and how to cope. Kerala is no different. With the floodwaters finally receding, a number of experts and politicians have stated various possible reasons for the tragedy. Some have cited ill-thought-out development plans that have affected the sustainability of the Western Ghats,...

-TheWire.in A drop in rice export rates from the top exporter, India, due to the falling rupee also weighed on demand for the Vietnamese variety. Bengaluru: Rice export prices in India fell this week as the rupee weakened, with the drop in rates from the top exporter also weighing on demand for the Vietnamese variety. Rates for India’s 5% broken parboiled rice fell by $3 per tonne to $389-$393 per tonne this week. “Rupee...

-India Today Kottayam/ Thiruvananthapuram: Kerala has been facing unusually high rainfall since early August, which has led to statewide floods killing hundreds and causing severe damage. At least 167 people have lost their lives and over two lakh people are in relief camps. Most of the regions impacted by this monsoon were once classified as ecologically-sensitive zones (ESZs) by the Western Ghats Ecology Expert Panel (WGEEP), also known as the Gadgil Committee. The report...

-Scroll.in A creek from the Periyar river was diverted when the airport – shut till August 26 – was built. As heavy rain continues to lash Kerala, the government announced on Thursday that the flooded Cochin International Airport would remain closed until August 26. The international airports in Thiruvananthapuram and Kozhikode districts will accommodate the traffic from Kochi, which is Kerala’s largest airport. The state is in the grip of what has...

-The Hindu The ongoing south-west monsoon has wreaked havoc in Kerala, with as many as 20 people killed in rain-related incidents on Thursday, taking the overall toll to 87. Here’s a look at how relentless rains over the past two months led to a chain of events which resulted in the floods. Hitting a high This year, the south-west Monsoon brought three spells of rains to Kerala — first during mid-June, second during mid-July...