Pathanamthitta: In the wake of the incessant rain and floods across the state, Chief Minister VD Satheesan on Tuesday announced that the Kerala government is working on an advanced disaster management and resilience system powered by artificial intelligence to improve early warning and preparedness for extreme weather events.

The proposed system, which will be developed with the support of experts and AI technology, is aimed at predicting sudden climate changes and issuing timely alerts. Satheesan said the project would be implemented on a pilot basis in Pathanamthitta, one of the districts worst affected by the ongoing rain-related disasters.

The announcement came after the Chief Minister chaired a high-level review meeting in Kozhencherry and later visited flood-hit areas in the district to assess the situation firsthand.

Speaking to reporters, Satheesan said the recent spell of torrential rain had exposed the need for a more effective disaster preparedness mechanism.

He also attributed the rapid rise in water levels in rivers, including the Pamba, to the lack of desilting since 2019. The Chief Minister said the government would take urgent steps to desilt rivers across the state, with Pathanamthitta being accorded priority.

Satheesan noted that several parts of Kerala had received more than 300 mm of rainfall within a short period over the past few days, triggering landslides and landslips, particularly in forest areas.

Flood situation
Pathanamthitta remains one of the worst-affected districts in Kerala, with major areas, including Ranni and Aranmula, inundated following incessant rain and the swelling of the Pamba river.

According to the district administration, nearly 1,700 people have been shifted to relief camps in Pathanamthitta. The district has also witnessed large-scale rescue operations, with fishermen from Kollam deploying boats to assist people stranded in flooded areas.

A state Cabinet meeting is also scheduled to discuss further relief and rehabilitation measures in the wake of the heavy rains.