India leads in early warning system in South Asia - World weather body
This story was originally published at 18:32 IST on 14 January 2025
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--World weather body: India has most advanced early warning system in S Asia
--CONTEXT: World Met Department General Secy Saulo's comments at IMD event
--IMD Mohapatra: India helping neighbours in building early warning infra
--CONTEXT: IMD Director General Mohapatra's comments at event
NEW DELHI – India has the most advanced early warning system in South Asia and supports the region in disaster management, World Meteorological Department Secretary General Celeste Saulo said on Tuesday. "India helped WMO lead the way during tropical Cyclone Mocha," she said at the 150th Foundation Day of India Meteorological Department here on Tuesday. The Extremely Severe Cyclonic Storm Mocha had in May 2023 impacted Myanmar, Bangladesh and India.
Stressing the need for knowledge sharing and support in capacity building, Saulo said, almost 75% of WMO members lack adequate early warning infrastructure.
The major pillars of early warnings are disaster risk knowledge, observations and forecasting, dissemination and communication, and preparedness and response, Saulo said. According to experts who spoke at the event, an accurate warning system is vital for effective evacuation planning.
"Early Warnings for All" is an initiative announced by the UN in 2022 to ensure that everyone is protected from hazardous weather, water, or climate events through life-saving early warning systems by the end of 2027. As part of the initiative, India is helping Nepal, Maldives, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, and Mauritius develop early warning systems to reduce the loss of life and property due to extreme weather events.
Apart from disaster management, accurate weather forecasts are vital for key sectors such as agriculture, aviation, defence, mining, tourism, and health. Accurate weather forecasts have also helped India to foray into weather risk forecasting and financing, IMD Director General Mrutyunjay Mohapatra said.
Speaking at the event, World Bank Practice Manager, Infrastructure Resilience Policy and Finance, Abhas Jha said that every $1 spent on early warning saves $7 in rehabilitation. "We tell finance ministries around the world that early warning is the best investment," Jha said.
Pointing to how India's early warning system has progressed over the century, Jha said, "Perhaps the most under-reported remarkable achievement of IMD is the declining deaths in natural disasters." Warnings of an impending disaster need to be disseminated in time to the last person, he added. Experts also stressed the need for quick action and cooperation from the state and people to the IMD's early warnings and evacuation calls. End
Reported by Afra Abubacker
Edited by Saji George Titus
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