Wayanad landslides: Kerala CM stresses need to contemporise weather prediction mechanisms
The HinduKerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has stressed the need to make weather prediction models more contemporary, location-specific, and accurate so that disaster mitigation measures can kick in early to save lives. Mr. Vijayan’s comment assumed political significance against the backdrop of the brewing controversy over whether India Meteorological Department, Central Water Commission and Geological Survey of India had adequately warned the Kerala government about the likelihood of heavy rain ahead of the catastrophic landslides in Wayanad. Climate institute to probe disaster Mr. Vijayan said the government would provide sufficient resources and personnel to the Institute for Climate Change Studies in Kottayam to fashion Kerala-specific weather forecast models. Rescue workers assisted by dog squads, human rescue radars which can detect signs of life up to 16 feet below, and aerial drone-based radars were combing the disaster zone”, Mr. Vijayan said. Mr. Vijayan said the rescue teams risked death and injury to look for survivors and extricate bodies trapped under the mud, collapsed buildings, uprooted trees and fallen boulders.