The State Government has issued an order that financial assistance will be provided to the persons affected by coastal floods/sea invasions.
According to the disaster management department’s regulations, the damage to life, property, livelihood and infrastructure caused by waves penetrating from the sea to the land beyond the high tide line (HTL) or subsequent flooding is referred to as high tide coastal flooding/marine invasion and is declared as a state-specific disaster.
Accordingly, financial assistance similar to that provided to victims of natural calamities as per State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF) norms will be provided to victims of coastal flooding/sea incursions.
The order said a letter from the Commissioner for Disaster Management in October last year clarified that the mode of occurrence of floods (such as extremely heavy rainfall, tidal waves, waves, release of water from dams, waterlogging of cities, surges, melting of snowpack and abnormal waves caused by cyclones) did not lead to any changes in the relief provided.
In this context ยง 2 letter (d) of the Disaster Management Act stipulates that if floods caused by high tides adversely affect a community and result in loss of life, livelihood and living conditions, such a natural phenomenon can be considered a disaster, the regulation said.
According to Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) Notification, High Tide Line (HTL) is a legally defined coastal line determined using exact scientific methods. Water encroaching beyond the HTL generally represents a dangerous marine invasion beyond the normal tidal range. Due to high tides, seawater rises and enters residential areas through adjacent rivers, backwaters and canals.
Along the state coast, especially in areas like Vypeen, Chellanam, Edakochi and Perumbadappu in Kochi Corporation and in Kumbalanghi panchayat, tidal flooding due to sea water intrusion occurs frequently. This causes widespread damage to residential areas and infrastructure, affecting the lives, livelihoods and living conditions of fishermen, coastal dwellers, small traders and many others.
Due to deficiencies in land use (houses/buildings located in floodplains and puramboke river/water body areas) and factors such as siltation and reduced depth of rivers and lakes, flooding now occurs in an unprecedented manner during high tide, the order said.
Therefore, based on the HTL, the natural phenomenon called coastal tidal flooding/sea invasion falls within the scope of the definition of disaster under the Kerala Disaster Management Act and can be declared as a state-specific disaster under the Ordinance.
Published – 30 Jan 2026 21:31 IST
