Kerala coastal panchayats prepare for UNESCO tsunami ready rating

Nine coastal panchayats in Kerala are set to undergo a formal evaluation to secure international recognition as "tsunami-ready" communities. The Kerala government has officially informed the National Tsunami Ready Board that these local bodies, scattered across nine coastal districts, have completed the extensive safety preparations required for the status.

The final assessments, overseen by the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission of UNESCO, are expected to take place in November 2026. This marks the culmination of years of local planning, structural upgrades, and community training aimed at protecting vulnerable coastal populations from marine disasters.

Which Kerala panchayats are on the list?

The nine panchayats selected for this first phase of the project represent a broad sweep of the Kerala coastline. They are:

• Karumkulam in Thiruvananthapuram
• Alappad in Kollam
• Purakkad in Alappuzha
• Edavanakkad in Ernakulam
• Eriyad in Thrissur
• Veliyancode in Malappuram
• Chemanchery in Kozhikode
• Azhikode in Kannur
• Valiyaparamba in Kasaragod

What does it take to be tsunami-ready?

Achieving the UNESCO tag is not just a matter of paperwork; it requires active local participation and visible infrastructure. According to Sekhar L. Kuriakose, the member secretary of the Kerala State Disaster Management Authority, the nine panchayats had to meet a strict list of indicators.

To do this, local authorities organised community awareness campaigns, carried out specialised training sessions, and conducted regular mock drills to test how residents would respond to a real wave warning.

Beyond training, the evaluation teams will look for physical evidence of disaster readiness. This includes:

• Detailed, locally tailored tsunami management plans.
• Clearly mapped and signposted evacuation routes leading to safe high ground.
• Highly visible tsunami warning boards and safety hoardings placed in public areas.

In Edavanakkad grama panchayat in Ernakulam, the process has been a long-term effort. Sajith K.A., the panchayat president, noted that their preparations began back in 2022. He said the entire community, with local fisherfolk playing a central role, had worked together to complete the safety objectives.

How will the evaluation work?

The next step involves a rigorous field verification process. Members of the National Tsunami Ready Board will visit each of the nine panchayats to inspect the physical infrastructure and talk to local residents. This visiting team will include ocean scientists from the Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services and disaster management experts from the National Disaster Management Authority.

Rather than just checking off boxes, the inspectors will interact directly with the public to ensure that the safety training has actually sunk in. If the board is satisfied with the level of community awareness and the physical safeguards in place, it will formally recommend to UNESCO that these coastal villages receive the coveted "Tsunami Ready" designation.