Azheekal Beach
Azheekal Beach
Azheekkal Beach | |
|---|---|
Beach | |
Azheekkal Beach | |
Azheekal Beach | |
| Coordinates: 9°07′55.9164″N 76°27′49.9392″E / 9.132199000°N 76.463872000°E | |
| Location | Azheekal, Oachira (via Karunagappally Taluk), Kollam, Kerala |
| Range | Alappad peninsula |
| Part of | Arabian Sea |
| Offshore water bodies | T. S. Canal (to the east) |
| Dimensions | |
| • Length | 660 m [1] |
| Hazard rating | Low |
| Nearest Transport | Karunagappally - 17 km Oachira - 9 km Trivandrum Airport - 110 km |
Azheekal Beach is a coastal landform on the Arabian Sea in the Karunagappally Taluk of Kollam district, Kerala, India. It is at the northern end of the Alappad peninsula, a land strip separating the sea from the T. S. Canal. The area is a site for the Azheekal Fishing Harbour and is a center for the regional fishing industry[1]. Following the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami, the beach was identified as a high-vulnerability zone. Modern environmental research focuses on the area due to coastal erosion and the impact of mineral sand mining[2].
Location and Geography
It is located on the Alappad peninsula, which measures less than 50 meters wide at several points between the Arabian Sea and the National Waterway 3 T. S. Canal[3] The beach is 12 km (7.5 mi) from Kayamkulam and 14 km (8.7 mi) from Karunagappally. Azheekal Beach is approximately 660 meters long.[1].
Fishing industry
The local economy is centered on the Azheekal Fishing Harbour. It supports a fleet of about 180 motorized boats, mostly under 15 HP, which use monofilament gillnets[4]. The harbour is a landing and distribution point for the Kollam district fisheries sector, which directy employs an estimated 100,000 workers[4].
Environmental change and mining
Data indicates a reduction in the Alappad peninsula's surface area. Lithographic maps from 1955 recorded the village area at 89.5 square kilometers; by 2018, the area was measured at 8.9 square kilometers[5]. Between 1973 and 2020, 59.24% of the coastline underwent erosion[6].
Local residents attribute this land loss to mineral sand mining by public sector units, including Indian Rare Earth Limited (IREL) and Kerala Minerals and Metals Limited (KMML)[2] These entities extract minerals such as ilmenite, rutile, and zircon from reserves estimated at 127 million tonnes. Research suggests mining contributes to saline water intrusion into local groundwater aquifers.[7].
2004 tsunami impact
Azheekal and Alappad recorded between 132 and 149 deaths during the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami[8] The village lost 2,194 houses, and another 3,000 were damaged.[9]. Research indicates the narrow geography and loss of natural sand barriers increased the vulnerability of residential zones to the waves. Long-term studies identified rates of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) among survivors cited in assessments conducted a decade later[10].
Tourism and demographics
The beach is a site for domestic tourism and features a seaward pier. Activities include swimming and small-scale boating. Agencies maintain a low hazard rating for the area under standard weather conditions[11][12].
The population primarily consists of traditional fishing castes, including the Hindu Dheevara and Araya communities. Other groups include Latin Catholics and members of the Ezhava community[13].
See also
References
- ^ a b c "Azheekkal Beach". Kerala Tourism. Retrieved 10 November 2025.
- ^ a b "Save Alappad, Stop Sand Mining, Kerala, India". EJAtlas. Retrieved 10 November 2025.
- ^ Elankath, J. (13 December 2020). "Kerala village Alappad: Sea erosion continues despite coastal defences". Onmanorama. Retrieved 10 November 2025.
- ^ a b Sudhakaran, S.; Varsha, C. "Climate Change Vulnerabilities on Livelihood of Fishing and Allied Communities of Southwest Coast of India". ResearchGate. Retrieved 10 November 2025.
- ^ Anonymous. "The Area of Village Has Shrunk From 89.5 Sq Km to 7.6 Sq Km. in 20 Years" (PDF). International Journal of Scientific Research. Retrieved 10 November 2025.
- ^ Selvan, C. C. (2020). "Shoreline change analysis along the Kerala coast". Journal of Coastal Conservation. 24 (5): 1–15. Retrieved 10 November 2025.
- ^ Sajan, S.; Sreebha, S. (2013). "Tsunami on Kerala coast: a study of groundwater quality". Environmental Monitoring and Assessment. 185 (12): 9907–9925. doi:10.1007/s10661-013-3329-0. Retrieved 10 November 2025.
- ^ Roos, D. (2 October 2018). "The 2004 Tsunami Wiped Away Towns". HISTORY. Retrieved 10 November 2025.
- ^ "Kerala: The Tsunami Aftermath" (PDF). Asian Human Rights Commission. Retrieved 10 November 2025.
- ^ Kumar, M. S. (2017). "Long-term mental health outcomes following the 2004 Asian tsunami disaster". Indian Journal of Psychiatry. 59 (4): 438–444. Retrieved 10 November 2025.
- ^ "Azheekkal South Beach". Sandee. Retrieved 10 November 2025.
- ^ "Azheekal Beach Weather". World Beach Guide. Retrieved 10 November 2025.
- ^ Menon, A. S. (25 November 2018). "Coastal community life under threat". The Hindu. Retrieved 10 November 2025.