Research Institute for Disaster Management

T H I R U V A N A N - THAPURAM: The Kerala Government is actively considering setting up a Research Institute for Disaster Management. Offi cial sources today said hundreds of innocent people perish in disasters both natural and man-made. The Research Institute could contribute more scientifi c methods in disaster management. Lack of knowledge about precautionary measures and new developments in the fi eld were partly the reasons for so many casualties, he added. There should be disaster risk reduction at all levels of governance -- Panchayat, District, State, National and Global, it said. Experts from all over India and from countries including the US, UK, Cuba, Austria, Spain, Netherlands and Sweden led discussions ranging from governance and policymaking and community empowerment to early warning systems, rapid response, fl ood hazard assessment and dam safety at the recently concluded Surakshaayanam-2012.