Last year’s monsoon left behind more than just floodwaters and fallen trees. It brought death and destruction that could have been prevented. The devastating Wayanad landslide in Kerala shook the region when it claimed hundreds of innocent lives, wiping out entire families and homes. Around the same time, in Karnataka, Ankola witnessed a tragic landslide that not only took lives but also severely damaged parts of the National Highway, paralysing local transport and daily life. These were not isolated incidents, but chilling reminders of how vulnerable the Western Ghats, Coastal Karnataka, and the Malnad region are during the monsoon.