First landslide early warning system in Kerala to be piloted in Kannur

The State government is working on a pilot project to establish a landslide early warning system in northern Kerala. The system aims to forecast and monitor the probability of landslides in vulnerable areas by analysing real-time rainfall data along with topographical susceptibility of the terrain.

The move assumes significance against the backdrop of recurring landslides in parts of Kerala, including Wayanad, during the monsoon season.

The Kerala Development and Innovation Strategic Council (K-DISC) has submitted a project proposal aimed at strengthening local weather forecasting and providing real-time early warnings in highly vulnerable areas of the Western Ghats. The project envisions a comprehensive integrated framework that employs ground-based sensors and hyper-local weather forecasting using Global Navigation Satellite System tomography-based sensors to monitor landslip risks and enhance community disaster preparedness.

As part of the project, K-DISC, in partnership with the Indian Institute of Technology, Roorkee, will implement a pilot project at Kanichar in Kannur, an area that has witnessed several minor landslides in the past. “The primary objective of the project is also to assess whether the system can be replicated in other vulnerable areas across the State at a reasonable cost,” an official said.

The project also incorporates AI-based modelling and other advanced technologies that could later be replicated in other parts of the State. Sensors developed by a start-up have already been installed at the project site, while the remaining installations will be completed after the monsoon, the official said.

Once all the installations are completed, the agency will require data from two monsoon seasons for validation. Based on the findings, the State government will consider extending the project to other vulnerable regions, sources said.

The estimated cost of the pilot project is ₹2.36 crore. Of this, K-DISC will contribute ₹1.32 crore from its own funds towards the innovation and development components handled by its technology partner. The rest will be sourced from the State Disaster Mitigation Fund.

The project was sanctioned by a committee chaired by the Chief Secretary after an evaluation of its strategic location at Madisserimala in Kanichar panchayat in Kannur as well as its core disaster mitigation capabilities.