Latest news with #DistrictDisasterManagementAuthority
NDTV
3 days ago
- Health
- NDTV
Kerala's Idukki Turns To AI, Sensors To Become Most Disaster-Ready Hill District
Idukki: In the lush, hilly district of Idukki in Kerala, where nature's beauty meets frequent danger, authorities are turning to technology for protection. A new high-tech system using artificial intelligence, sensors, and satellite maps will soon help predict landslides, flash floods, forest fires, and droughts in real time -- part of an ambitious plan to make Idukki the most disaster-resilient hill district in the country. The innovative Idukki Disaster Resilience and Information System (IDRIS)-- a first-of-its-kind early warning and planning platform -- will be rolled out this monsoon as a pilot project, said District Collector V Vigneshwari here on Tuesday. The pilot rollout will begin in Adimaly and Rajakkad, two areas often hit by landslides, floods, and rising conflict between people and wildlife, an official release said. IDRIS is the first system of its kind in India, combining real-time data, satellite maps, and advanced tools like Artificial Intelligence to send early warnings for natural disasters such as landslides, flash floods, wildfires, and drought, the release claimed. The system will help local leaders and government officials make better, faster decisions. It does this by using GIS-based risk maps to guide where roads, buildings, and water systems should be built -- keeping both people and nature in mind, officials said. The system is being developed under the leadership of the District Disaster Management Authority (DDMA). The system uses artificial intelligence, sensors and satellite maps to monitor and predict hazards like landslides, flash floods, forest fires and droughts in real time, the release said. "Forty-six sensors will monitor soil movement, rain and moisture levels. Forty-eight river gauges will track water levels in key tributaries such as the Thodupuzha River and Pamba. Data will be fed live into a GIS-based control room at the District Emergency Operations Centre. Officials will use this information to send early warnings and guide safer infrastructure planning," it said. Alerts will be sent through SMS, sirens, radio and a mobile app, in Malayalam, English, Tamil, Hindi, and tribal languages. "The development of the IDRIS software and its field-level testing will begin soon," the district collector said. The aim is to transform Idukki into India's most disaster-resilient hill district by combining sensor technology, GIS-based risk layers, and machine learning, she added. Officials said Idukki is a district highly prone to disasters. Since 2000, it has faced over 600 landslides, recurring floods, rising incidents of wild animal attacks, unsafe constructions, and forest fires, they said. Taking all these risks into account, a comprehensive multi-hazard monitoring system is being set up in the district, officials added.
The Hindu
3 days ago
- General
- The Hindu
Idukki turns to AI to face disasters
In the lush, hilly district of Idukki, where nature's beauty meets frequent danger, authorities are turning to technology for protection. A new high-tech system using Artificial Intelligence (AI), sensors, and satellite maps will soon help predict landslides, flash floods, forest fires, and droughts in real time — part of an ambitious plan to make Idukki the most disaster-resilient hill district in the country. The innovative Idukki Disaster Resilience and Information System (IDRIS) — a first-of-its-kind early warning and planning platform — will be rolled out this monsoon as a pilot project, said District Collector V. Vigneshwari here on Tuesday. The pilot rollout will begin in Adimaly and Rajakkad, two areas often hit by landslides, floods, and rising conflict between people and wildlife, an official release said. IDRIS is the first system of its kind in India, combining real-time data, satellite maps, and advanced tools like AI to send early warnings for natural disasters such as landslides, flash floods, wildfires, and drought, the release claimed. The system will help local leaders and government officials make better, faster decisions. It does this by using GIS-based risk maps to guide where roads, buildings, and water systems should be built — keeping both people and nature in mind, officials said. The system is being developed under the leadership of the District Disaster Management Authority (DDMA). The system uses AI , sensors and satellite maps to monitor and predict hazards like landslides, flash floods, forest fires and droughts in real time, the release said. 'Forty-six sensors will monitor soil movement, rain and moisture levels. Forty-eight river gauges will track water levels in key tributaries such as the Thodupuzha River and Pamba. Data will be fed live into a GIS-based control room at the District Emergency Operations Centre. Officials will use this information to send early warnings and guide safer infrastructure planning,' it said. Alerts will be sent through SMS, sirens, radio and a mobile app, in Malayalam, English, Tamil, Hindi, and tribal languages. 'The development of the IDRIS software and its field-level testing will begin soon,' the District Collector said. The aim is to transform Idukki into India's most disaster-resilient hill district by combining sensor technology, GIS-based risk layers, and machine learning, she added. Officials said Idukki is a district highly prone to disasters. Since 2000, it has faced over 600 landslides, recurring floods, rising incidents of wild animal attacks, unsafe constructions, and forest fires, they said. Taking all these risks into account, a comprehensive multi-hazard monitoring system is being set up in the district, officials added.
The Print
5 days ago
- The Print
Three Myanmarese refugees among 4 killed in landslides as heavy rainfall lashes Mizoram
The family had been taking shelter in the village since 2021 following the military coup in the neighbouring country, they said. Three persons, aged between 34 and 71 years, from a Myanmarese family have died and another was injured when a massive landslide struck and buried their rented house at Vaphai village in east Mizoram's Champhai district near the India-Myanmar border on Saturday, they said. Aizawl, May 31 (PTI) Four persons, including three Myanmarese refugees, were killed while one was injured when their houses collapsed due to landslides triggered by heavy rain in Mizoram on Saturday, taking the toll in the current spate of downpour to five, officials said. The injured person was taken to a nearby hospital at Farkawn. In a separate incident, a 53-year-old man was killed when his house collapsed due to a landslide in Serchhip district, about 114 km from state capital Aizawl, on Saturday. Officials said that the victim succumbed to his injuries in Serchhip District Hospital. On Friday, a 37-year-old man was killed and another injured when a wall collapsed on a labourer camp at Aizawl's Thuampui area. Meanwhile, all the missing persons, who were trapped under the debris of a collapsed building in Lawngtlai town were rescued, an official of the District Disaster Management Authority said. Speaking to PTI, the official said that three out 20 people from Myanmar's Rakhine state, who were staying in the lodge, went missing after the building, besides five other buildings in the town, collapsed following heavy rain. The incident occurred around 10.35 pm on Friday when landslides triggered by heavy rain struck the buildings in the contiguous areas of Bazar veng and Chandmary localities in Lawngtlai, he said. One person escaped from the debris on his own soon after the collapse, while two more persons were rescued on Saturday, he said. He said the Myanmar nationals had come to Mizoram for business and 17 of them had gone outside at the time of the incident. Three caretakers of the lodge and occupants of other buildings had escaped just before the incident, he said. Rescue teams from the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), 3rd Indian Reserve Battalion, security forces, the Disaster Management Authority and Young Lai Association (YLA), among others, will continue to clear the debris on Sunday, he said. Lawngtlai Superintendent of Police (SP) Lokeshwaran told PTI that the area where the incident occurred was severely hit by massive landslides in 1995. He said the collapsed buildings included a three-storey building and two under-construction buildings. He said that the incident is suspected to have been caused by the continuous inflow of water into the area due to incessant heavy rain. Mizoram has been experiencing heavy rain since Friday, triggering landslides and rockfalls at several places. An IMD report said Lawngtlai district received 205 mm of rainfall on Saturday, Khawzawl 184 mm, Hnahthial 130 and Aizawl 91 mm of rainfall. At least 56 houses were damaged in 147 landslides across the state on Saturday, according to a bulletin by the state Emergency Operation Centre. Sixty-three families were also evacuated to safer places due to landslides and floods, it said. Landslides have also blocked national and intra-state highways at 69 locations, the bulletin said. Officials also said that many travellers intending to travel to the southern part of the state were stranded in Serchhip town after landslides damaged a national highway. PTI CORR RG ACD This report is auto-generated from PTI news service. ThePrint holds no responsibility for its content.
The Hindu
29-05-2025
- General
- The Hindu
Thrissur Corporation cracks down on unsafe buildings
The Thrissur Corporation is taking a firm stance on dangerous and structurally unsafe buildings within city limits. Buildings, housing and commercial establishments that have repeatedly ignored notices and failed to produce stability certificates will now face strict action, according to Mayor M.K. Varghese. Despite being issued multiple warnings, several building owners have not complied with safety norms, prompting the corporation to act. Mayor Varghese publicly announced that there will be no more dialogue — only action — when it comes to unsafe structures. Demolition begins The demolition of the Manorama Building near Swaraj Round has already begun. The Corporation and the District Disaster Management Authority are taking the action under the provisions of the National Disaster Management Act. More such demolitions are expected soon as the corporation plans to expand this effort across the city. Out of 227 identified old buildings, decisions have already been made regarding 144. The process will take place in three phases, the Mayor said. The first phase will focus on buildings considered to be in the most critical condition. Corporation is taking action as owners and business operators have not taken steps to ensure the safety of these buildings, the Mayor said. Even some of the Corporation-owned buildings are found to be unsafe. Urgent safety measures initiated for those buildings, Mayor Varghese confirmed.
The Hindu
28-05-2025
- Climate
- The Hindu
Vigil continues as heavy rain hits normal life in Kozhikode
Heavy rain continues to disrupt normal life in Kozhikode on Wednesday (May 28, 2025) amid heightened vigil by the District Disaster Management Authority (DDMA) and village-level rescue squads. Arrangements were made to prepare additional relief camps in landslide-prone areas with the support of local administrators and Revenue department squads. 'The village officers in upland areas are closely monitoring the situation. In case of any emergency, affected families will be shifted to the relief camps. Areas where landslides occurred during previous monsoon seasons will be kept under continuous watch,' said a senior Revenue department officer from Vadakara. He added the village officers and local administrators had already reviewed preparedness and the arrangements to open relief camps if an emergency arises. The DDMA has already audited the safety measures taken to protect people living in the vulnerable coastal areas of the district. Fishermen residing near zones previously affected by sea erosion have been asked to relocate to safer locations. Some families have voluntarily moved in response to the cautionary messages. Revenue department squads have also circulated cautionary messages to prevent incidents of electrocution and drowning in the wake of the strengthening monsoon and flooding. Most water tourism destinations remain shut in the upland areas of Kozhikode as a precautionary measure. Entry will also be restricted at beach tourism destinations following the rough weather alert. On Wednesday, the India Meteorological department (IMD) issued fresh lightning alert. It urged the public to use the 'Damini' lightning alert mobile application for instant updates. Instructions were also issued to discourage outdoor entertainment activities during lightning. Domestic animals should not be allowed to graze in open fields, the IMD communication said. Within the last four days, several local bodies convened emergency meetings to discuss disaster management activities and priority areas. Local body members presented details of vulnerable locations during the meetings, and the requirements were sent to the DDMA for consideration. Meanwhile, the Congress and the Bharatiya Janata Party called for a dawn-to-dusk hartal in Vilangad, which experienced several destructive landslides during the last monsoon season. The protesters alleged that around 30 affected families were yet to receive their rightful compensation, citing laxity on the part of the State government.
