Lack of long-term plans to mitigate rain-inducted calamities worrying for Kerala
Kerala is facing criticism for its slow response to recent rain-induced disasters, with the government blaming delayed weather forecasts from the IMD. Experts argue that the state lacks long-term mitigation strategies, despite the availability of historical data and vulnerability maps that identify high-risk zones.
Why it matters
This highlights the critical gap between scientific climate modeling and effective disaster management policy in regions increasingly prone to extreme weather.
Under fire for the sluggish response to the rain-related calamities in the State over the last few days, the State government on Monday sought to blame the India Meteorological Department (IMD) for a delay in relaying the weather forecast. But experts say it also unravels the absence of long-term mitigation plans to tackle increasingly frequent rain-induced calamities in the State.
Chief Minister V.D. Satheesan on Monday said the flooding was triggered by extremely heavy rainfall, with some places receiving more than 350 mm of rain. He said the State received the IMD’s warning of an extreme rainfall event only around midnight, leaving little time for authorities to carry out large-scale evacuations.
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