Kerala to launch AI-powered disaster management programme
Kerala Chief Minister V D Satheesan on Wednesday, August 5, announced that the state will roll out an artificial intelligence (AI)-backed disaster management and resilience programme aimed at strengthening early warning systems and improving preparedness for extreme weather events.
Speaking in Thiruvananthapuram, Satheesan said the proposed system, tailored to Kerala's unique topography, would be among the country's most effective disaster management frameworks. The initiative will leverage AI to enhance forecasting capabilities and provide timely alerts for sudden weather changes.
Drawing a comparison with Odisha's disaster preparedness model, the chief minister said the state had significantly improved its response mechanisms over the years. \
Referring to official figures, he said thousands of people died in the devastating 1978 cyclone, while effective disaster management measures helped limit fatalities to just two during a cyclone in recent years. He said Kerala should aim to achieve a similar transformation.
As part of the programme, the government plans to establish one of India's most advanced weather forecasting systems with support from internationally recognised climate and disaster management experts.
Flood mapping will also be carried out across the state to identify disaster-prone areas and improve risk assessment.
Satheesan said the government will undertake desilting of dams and remove accumulated silt, sand and waste from rivers and other water bodies to improve water-carrying capacity and reduce flood risks.
Alleging that no desilting work had been carried out since 2018, he said riverbeds had accumulated silt and debris, reducing their capacity and increasing the likelihood of flooding and waterlogging even during moderate rainfall.
The chief minister said the government would begin statewide desilting operations immediately after the monsoon and added that instructions had already been issued to the Revenue and Water Resources departments.
He also announced that an AI-driven dam management system would be introduced under the disaster resilience programme. A team of eminent disaster management experts will assist the government in implementing the initiative.
Additionally, the government will conduct a land audit to identify encroachments along riverbanks as part of efforts to strengthen flood management and reduce disaster risks.
(Inputs from PTI)
