Kerala Chief Minister Announces Financial Aid for Flood-Affected Areas
Support for Flood Victims in Kerala
Pathanamthitta (Kerala), August 4 - The Chief Minister of Kerala, V.D. Satheesan, visited flood-affected regions of the district on Tuesday, announcing a financial assistance of ₹10,000 for households inundated due to recent heavy rainfall. He also mentioned that the government is considering establishing a new disaster management system to enhance the accuracy of weather forecasts and improve disaster response capabilities.
Satheesan explained that this new disaster management framework will be developed in collaboration with expert agencies and artificial intelligence (AI), functioning as an early warning system. He stated that both human-operated and AI-enabled rain measurement systems will be deployed across the state. Additionally, expertise from renowned institutions like the Hume Center for Ecology and Wildlife Biology and Cochin University, which are working in the field of climate change, will be utilized.
The Chief Minister indicated that this effective weather forecasting and early warning system will initially be implemented in Pathanamthitta district. He highlighted that the biggest challenge currently is the occurrence of cloudbursts or extremely heavy rainfall without prior warning, leaving little time for residents to reach safe locations. He noted that there have been instances of intense rainfall occurring in a very short period.
Typically, rainfall exceeding 200 mm is classified as extremely heavy, but this time, some areas recorded up to 340 mm. Satheesan pointed out that landslides and soil subsidence within forests are significant contributors to flooding in various locations. He confirmed that seven individuals remain missing since the heavy rains began.
The proposed disaster management system, which aims to be the most effective in the country, will be initiated after examining all aspects, including landslides in forested areas. The Chief Minister attributed the primary cause of flooding to sediment accumulation in riverbeds, accusing that no dredging has been conducted since 2019. He warned that the recent floods would lead to further sediment buildup in rivers, reducing their water retention capacity and causing flooding even during normal rainfall.
Satheesan assured that the government will not wait for the next flood and will take immediate action to dredge rivers across the state, prioritizing severely affected areas such as Thiruvalla, Ranni, and Aranmula in Pathanamthitta district.