As someone who has been spending extensive time in Kozhikode over the last few years, the news of the latest tragedy in Wayanad district sent shivers down my spine. There are few greater temptations in the Malabar heat than to just escape the historic city by the Arabian Sea for the misty mountains and cool air of Wayanad. Hearing about the Kerala landslides from the distant comfort of Kandy, my first thought was to try and get in touch with an Indo-English couple, who gave up living in London and decided to build their dream home in the beautiful hilly region.
I found out that they lived in an area that was not affected by the natural disaster, but were obviously unsettled by the loss of more than 400 lives. Since so many parts of the country witness hot weather for most of the year, it is the quintessential Indian dream to have a home in a hill station. The era of remote working has also helped fuel a real estate boom in many of these hilly areas.
Wayanad, with its moderate weather and Malayalam-speaking populace, is as close to an ideal place for a Keralite as any. Residents of urban jungles all want to live close to real nature and get a peep of wildlife, at least from a safe and healthy distance. But, do these erstwhile virgin spots have the capacity to take in even a small population influx? The concept of mass domestic tourism also affects the fragile ecosystem of Kerala.
The state periodically witnesses monsoon floods, erosion of land by the Arabian Sea and landslides.