Kerala declares tide flooding a State-specific disaster
Tidal waters have turned life into a nightmare for those living in coastal areas in Ernakulam district. A scene from Edavanakkad in Vypin. | Photo Credit: THULASI KAKKAT(File)
For the first time in the country, tidal inundation along the coastline has been declared a State-specific disaster by a State government. Kerala has taken the lead in declaring tidal flooding as a state-specific disaster, given the severity of the phenomenon along the coastline of the state, which has a coastline of about 590 km and nine of its 14 districts lie along the Arabian Sea.
Kerala bears the brunt of coastal flooding throughout the year, with tidal waves advancing towards the coastline beyond the High Tide Line (HTL), which is the legally defined coastline using precise scientific methods as per the Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) notification. Then the problem becomes seriouscoastal flooding coincides with spring tides and exacerbates the depth and extent of flooding. The risk is especially serious in low-lying areas of Alappuzha and Ernakulam, according to a senior government official.
For example, sea water rises and enters residential areas through adjoining rivers, backwaters and canals during times of high tide along the Kerala coast, causing extensive damage to residential areas and infrastructure, especially the Vypin, Chellanam, Edakochi and Perumbadappu in Kochi Corporation and Kumbalanghi panchayat in Ernakulam, where recurring tidal inundation caused by sea water intrusion occurs frequently. Statewide, approximately 10% of the state’s population is affected by the impact of coastal flooding.
According to the government order, since tidal surge is a routine natural phenomenon, a normal tidal surge cannot be declared as a disaster as per State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF) norms. This makes it difficult to provide financial assistance to those affected under SDRF norms. However, Article 2(d) of the Disaster Management Act provides that if floods caused by high tide adversely affect a community and result in loss of lives, livelihoods and living conditions, such natural event can be considered a disaster.
Taking advantage of this provision, Kerala now notifies ‘coastal flooding/sea inundation’ as a State-specific disaster and lakhs of people affected by it will benefit. Due to deficiencies in land use, a significant number of houses and buildings are located in floodplains, lands close to rivers and poramboke lands near water bodies. Authorities also said factors such as siltation and decreasing depth in rivers and lakes are worsening unprecedented flooding during tidal rise.
The government order stated that unlike rainfall-induced flooding, tidal flooding is a hazard that can occur throughout the year, further increasing the importance of declaring it as a State-specific disaster. In the declaration, it was stated that similar financial assistance provided to victims of natural disasters within the scope of SDRF norms could also be given to victims of coastal floods/sea raids.
During full moon and new moon, the sun and moon align, creating a strong gravitational pull on the Earth’s water, causing very high tides known as spring tides. If high waves hit simultaneously, this could lead to severe coastal erosion and flooding along the Kerala coastline.
It was published – 17 February 2026 19:17 IST
