Aluva, in Kerala’s Ernakulam district, was heavily hit by the 2018 floods. Situated 15 kilometres from Kochi, it lies in the Periyar river delta. This paper focuses on crafting flood risk reduction strategies for Aluva. The study analyses various flood types, their causes and impacts, focusing on fluvial floods. It examines the Kerala government’s flood management guidelines and identifies parameters for flood risk analysis. International best practices are reviewed, and local surveys and interviews in Aluva assess past floods and impacts. The Geographical Information System is used to map inundated areas and flood vulnerability zones with relevance to the 2018 floods. Risk analysis is conducted through the generation of a flood risk map for the Aluva municipal area. Recommendations are provided for flood risk reduction in Aluva municipal area and regional-level policy recommendations targeting fluvial flood influence areas in the Periyar river basin are suggested.