Kerala to develop local early warning systems for disasters: CM Vijayan

The Kerala government has decided to focus on scientific use of land and deployment of localised early warning systems as part of its efforts to tackle Wayanad-like landslides and other disasters in the future, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has said. He said the landslide forecasting systems were in the "infancy" stage and his government now wants to "strengthen" Kerala's institutes and departments meant for studying climate change by providing them enhanced manpower and modern equipments. More than 230 people lost their lives even as an equal number of body parts were found from under the debris and from the Chaliyar river after the worst-ever disaster of the state destroyed large tracts of three Wayanad villages-- Punchirimattom, Chooralmala and Mundakkai apart from some in Attamala when the disaster struck on July 30. Speaking to PTI during an interview over the weekend, Vijayan said, "In an era of climate change, fragility is a matter that needs to be balanced with respect to