Severe monsoon flooding causes $1.2bn loss in India

Heavy rainfall triggered flooding and landslides in the state of Kerala between August 8-16, causing an estimated preliminary economic loss of INR83 billion ($1.2 billion), but the figure is likely to rise, according to Aon’s Weekly Cat Report.

Losses to the production of tea, coffee, rubber and spices in Kerala was estimated to be INR6 billion ($86 million).

As many as 115 fatalities were reported across the state and tens of thousands of structures were damaged or destroyed.

Beyond structural impacts, local officials reported that catastrophic impacts had occurred to local infrastructure and swaths of agriculture.

Incessant rainfall in the state since the onset of monsoons triggered several landslips and caused a significant rise in the levels of various rivers and dams. A particularly intense spell of rainfall from August 8-16 caused several dams to approach maximum capacity.

This necessitated the opening of several dam shutters to as many as 22 reservoirs, including the gates of Idukki Dam.

The released water exacerbated the flooding downstream and resulted in the worst floods in Kerala since 1924.

As many as 60,000 people were displaced at the peak of the flooding. According to latest estimates. Initial estimates indicate that a minimum of 20,000 houses were destroyed and more than 10,000 kilometres (6,200 miles) of roadways were damaged.

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