Andhra Pradesh launches AI platform to forecast urban floods; Vijayawada first

The Andhra Pradesh government has launched City Flood Alert, an AI-powered technology platform developed by the Real Time Governance Society (RTGS) with the Andhra Pradesh State Disaster Management Authority (APSDMA) and IIT Gandhinagar. The platform is designed to predict urban flooding before it occurs, enabling authorities to take preventive measures well in advance.

According to a press release by RTGS on Sunday (July 26, 2026), the system combines artificial intelligence, satellite-based terrain mapping, predictive analytics and hydrological modelling to provide rainfall forecasts up to 48 hours in advance and flash flood warnings up to six hours in advance.

The platform will initially be deployed in Vijayawada, where recurring floods, particularly from the Budameru rivulet, have frequently affected low-lying areas.

Using a high-resolution Digital Elevation Model created from satellite imagery and nearly three decades of historical Budameru flood data, the system can identify flood-prone locations, simulate inundation under different rainfall scenarios and detect drainage channels vulnerable to silt accumulation. Once a flood threat is identified, the platform automatically alerts the APSDMA, enabling timely advisories to District Collectors, Municipal Commissioners and field officials for preventive measures, including drain clearance, emergency team deployment and evacuation of vulnerable residents.

Following its rollout in Vijayawada, City Flood Alert will be expanded to all urban local bodies across Andhra Pradesh. By integrating advanced technology with disaster management expertise, the platform marks a shift from reactive flood response to predictive governance, setting a new benchmark for climate-resilient urban management in the State, the release said.