Nov 19 2014 : The Times of India (Delhi)
`Go low-tech during disasters'
Sumeet Keswani
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Kathmandu
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Low-tech methods need to be combined with high-tech devices for effective communication in times of disaster. This measure was suggested by an IMD official at a conference on climate change here. A low-cost flood early warning system monitored by local communities was also showcased.The conference on `Mountain people adapting to change' was held here from November 9 to 12 by ICIMOD (International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development) to bridge scientific data, policies of the eight countries that contain some part of the Hindu Kush Himalayas (HKH) and local practices in the region.
The north-western Himalayas have recently seen a series of natural disasters. The 2010 floods in Pakistan, the 2013 flash floods in Uttarakhand, the recent floods in J&K -all have underlined the need to understand the impact of climate change on the region and find ways to mitigate it. The lead time in predicting mesoscale weather systems -which can lead to flash floods -is 10 to 35 minutes, said Anand Sharma, director, IMD-Dehradun, and a panelist at the conference. Communication though can be improved.
“We had given a warning 72 hours in advance for the Kedarnath floods. But pilgrims who were already on their way couldn't be contacted, with no power and poor cellphone networks,“ Sharma said.“I have been suggesting using tonealerts and hand-winding radios. They need no power or cellphone networks.“
Mats Eriksson, director, climate change and water, knowledge services, at SIWI (Stockholm International Water Institute) suggested a bottom-up approach. “The communities need to reach out to know what they need to do.“
With this in mind, ICIMOD, along with CICERO (Centre for International Climate and Environmental ResearchOslo) and Aaranyak, an environmental research organization in north-east India, has come up with a communitybased flood early warning system (FEWS). A sensor on a transmitter installed on a riverbank detects rising water levels and sends an alert to a receiver installed with a community living upstream. Locals then warn people living downstream and the district authorities.
Eight such systems, each of which costs $800, were installed in the Jiadhal and Singora rivers in Assam. In 2013, one of these sent a critical alert to villages before being washed away, said Nand Kishor Agrawal of ICIMOD.
The correspondent was at the conference on invite by ICIMOD
The north-western Himalayas have recently seen a series of natural disasters. The 2010 floods in Pakistan, the 2013 flash floods in Uttarakhand, the recent floods in J&K -all have underlined the need to understand the impact of climate change on the region and find ways to mitigate it. The lead time in predicting mesoscale weather systems -which can lead to flash floods -is 10 to 35 minutes, said Anand Sharma, director, IMD-Dehradun, and a panelist at the conference. Communication though can be improved.
“We had given a warning 72 hours in advance for the Kedarnath floods. But pilgrims who were already on their way couldn't be contacted, with no power and poor cellphone networks,“ Sharma said.“I have been suggesting using tonealerts and hand-winding radios. They need no power or cellphone networks.“
Mats Eriksson, director, climate change and water, knowledge services, at SIWI (Stockholm International Water Institute) suggested a bottom-up approach. “The communities need to reach out to know what they need to do.“
With this in mind, ICIMOD, along with CICERO (Centre for International Climate and Environmental ResearchOslo) and Aaranyak, an environmental research organization in north-east India, has come up with a communitybased flood early warning system (FEWS). A sensor on a transmitter installed on a riverbank detects rising water levels and sends an alert to a receiver installed with a community living upstream. Locals then warn people living downstream and the district authorities.
Eight such systems, each of which costs $800, were installed in the Jiadhal and Singora rivers in Assam. In 2013, one of these sent a critical alert to villages before being washed away, said Nand Kishor Agrawal of ICIMOD.
The correspondent was at the conference on invite by ICIMOD
