State launches disaster‑management resilience program with AI‑driven dam monitoring

Kerala's government announced the launch of an ambitious Disaster Management Resilience Programme designed to harness artificial intelligence for better flood control. The initiative follows the recent monsoon surge that caused 26 deaths, left 11 injured, and left four people missing.

Key components of the programme include AI‑based dam operation systems, high‑precision weather forecasting, real‑time flood mapping, and continuous scientific monitoring. The state also plans to dredge silt from rivers and reservoirs, targeting sediment accumulated since the 2018 flood.

The AI‑enabled dam management framework is expected to become a national model for disaster response, according to the chief minister. Alongside the technological upgrades, the government approved a suite of relief measures: INR 8 lakh for families of the deceased, INR 12 lakh for completely destroyed homes, and increased crop compensation by 25%.

Further steps involve restoring damaged coastal infrastructure, launching a new housing scheme for fishermen, and allocating the first tranche of the 2026‑27 Development Fund to local bodies.