Vishnu Varma
Vishnu Varma is a correspondent for the Indian Express in Kerala.
Articles By Vishnu Varma
Lot of rain in very short time: Climate change patterns explain Kerala flood catastrophe
Unlike last year, the damage is heavy in the northern districts this year -- particularly in Malappuram and Wayanad, where landslides are feared to have killed dozens.
Kerala: Flood hit Nilambur, ‘misses’ it’s date with Eid but sends out a message of resilience
'When so many people are dead and many still missing, there's no point in celebrating Eid, ' said Abdul Karim, who drives an autorickshaw in the town.
Kerala floods: Under a hill that flattened, they stepped out, their neighbourhood was gone
The rains appear to have eased but the official death toll from this month’s floods in Kerala, mainly in the northern districts of Malappuram and Wayanad, has risen to 72.
Kavalappara landslide: Only house standing, but resident not sure if it’s a good thing to be alive
Kerala flood: If ever there was a miracle in Kavalappara that night, it saved the lives of Thankamani and her husband. Except for the couple's home, a tiny Shiva temple and a clump of areca nut trees in the centre, the hill had wiped out everything.
Kerala: Overwhelmed by first flood in half a century, Nilambur now tries to pick up pieces
The town, hidden in the Nilgiri range of the Western Ghats and loved by the British for its beauty and more so for its abundance of teak and rosewood trees, has been left broken by the floods, its shops and commercial establishments plundered and its people wanting for relief.
What does freedom mean to young Indians?
A new generation, aged between 12 and 18, from across the country, tell us what the ideas of freedom and patriotism mean to them.
Wayanad remains at the centre of Kerala’s rainfall devastation story
The ecologically fragile zone, classified as one of the four climate change hot-spots in Kerala, received 252.3 mm rainfall against actual rainfall of 184.5 mm in the period between August 1 and August 7, a departure of 37 per cent.
A year after century’s worst floods in Kerala, a chilling feeling of deja vu
Kerala weather live updates | The Cochin International Airport has suspended operations till 9 am tomorrow (Friday) and hill stations like Munnar and Kumily are cut-off due to landslides on the roads leading to them
‘Like an elder sister’: Fr Tom Uzhunnalil, rescued from ISIS captivity, remembers Sushma Swaraj
In September, 2017, then-foreign minister Sushma Swaraj had announced on Twitter that the priest had been released from ISIS captivity and will return to India shortly.
‘Horrifying feeling’: Kashmiri traders, 3000 kms away in Kochi, are on their nerves
Some of the Kashmiri traders were also plugged into the news to find out if communication lines were open in the Valley. After all, it had been more than 12 hours since they spoke to their families back home.
Take 5: ‘Around 100 inmates part of the cooking units, get paid Rs 150 a day’
The Freedom Food Factory, an enterprise selling food prepared by inmates in Kerala’s prisons, has tied up with a food app to deliver items prepared at the Viyyur Central Jail in Thissur. Currently, food items such as biryani, roti and curries are sold over the counter at the prison
Kumbalangi days: Kerala self-help network trains, rolls out all-women construction teams
While local women make up a sizeable section of Kerala’s construction labourer base, most do lowly jobs due to lack of training and experience. Kudumbashree aims to train women in all aspects of construction to guide them towards leadership positions.
Kerala’s Kappad Beach in contention among 12 beaches in India for ‘Blue Flag’ certification
An order by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change last week identified Kappad Beach among 12 such beaches in the country for shortlisting to the Blue Flag certification programme.
As Church factions sparred for power, 84-year-old’s body lay in freezer for a week before burial
An ongoing feud between the Orthodox and Jacobite factions of the Malankara Church over ownership of churches and properties meant her body had to be stored in a hospital freezer for over a week until the tussle could be resolved.
Explained: Five reasons the Kerala bypolls are crucial for all parties involved
The bypolls are significant for a number of reasons. One, the seats will be seen as a mid-term referendum on the policies of the ruling Left government in the state.
Explained: What is the Kerala Champions Boat League?
This year, the Champions Boat League (CBL) will make its debut with top participating clubs taking part in 12 races across six districts in three months starting in August.
No, Munroe Island is not sinking; but that does not stop the sinking feeling
The island, located at the joining of the Kallada river and the expansive Ashtamudi backwaters which opens out to the sea at Neendakara, has been flagged over the years by environmentalists and locals as the unambiguous casualty of global warming.
How to make friends in Malayalam
A new generation of migrant students is flowering in Kerala’s government schools.
Kerala: Fruits soon on midday meal menu, biodiversity parks to be set up in school compounds
A top education official told the Indian Express that the introduction of a seasonal fruit variety - such as banana, mango or papaya - on the midday meal menu will boost the nutritional requirements of students.
A Malayali filmmaker tells stories of Dalits being forced to bury their dead under their homes
The documentary attempts to place the discrimination meted out to the Dalit community when it comes to burying their bodies at the centre of drawing-room discussions in a state hailed for its progressive social indicators.
