Dr. Harshvardhan Singh, the Union Minister for Science and Technology and Earth Sciences, today dedicated a new and revolutionary weather information and disaster alert system based upon SMS to the people of the country. He launched this SMS based warning system that will sound alerts to people living in disaster prone areas about cyclones, tsunamis, and other potentially threatening weather systems. He dedicated this system to the nation saying it would prove invaluable in saving the lives of the people living in coastal areas and other areas that are prone to natural disasters.
Launch coincides with God Governance Day and birthday of former PM Atal Behari Vajpayee
Dr. Harshvardhan said that the launch of this wonderful alert system coincided with Good Governance Day which is also the birthday of former Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee. This is why he is feeling proud and honored to inaugurate this weather information system. He inaugurated the system at India Meteorological Department in New Delhi where several other distinguished guests were also present. These included Dr. Shailesh Nayak, Ministry of earth Sciences and Chairman ESSO, and Dr. L S Rathore, Director General of Meteorology.
This SMS based alert system is a component of Digital India Program
Speaking on the occasion, Dr. Harshvardhan said that this weather information system that is SMS based is a part of the larger Digital India Program. It is this program that aims to empower the society electronically. He said that people would have to register in this SMS based alert system by giving their mobile numbers so that they can receive alerts about potentially threatening weather systems much in advance. Interested people can register themselves at the website of Indian Meteorological Department which is www.rsmcnewdelhi@imd.gov.in.
Recent advances in weather forecasting have saved lives and property to a great extent
Dr. Harshvardhan said that many initiatives have been taken by the meteorological department in recent years in the field of weather forecasts and this SMS based alert system is based upon latest communication and information technologies. He added that because of the use of alert systems, lives and property have been saved on a very large scale in recent times. He made special mention of recent cyclones Hudhud and Phailin saying that these severe cyclones struck Vishakhapatnam and Gopalpur in the last two years but because of use of advance weather alert systems; loss of lives and property was minimized to a great extent.
Using this revolutionary SMS based weather information system, disaster managers monitoring weather disturbances can quickly send SMSs to people living in coastal areas whether they are farmers or fishermen to leave the area and save their lives. In present times, all people keep a mobile phone with them no matter where they are working. This system will allow people living in affected areas to get warnings and alerts about impending danger through weather disturbances much in advance.
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About Sanjay Tandon
Sanjay Tandon is a graduate engineer from IIT Varanasi. He has been writing as a freelancer for many years. He loves to write on various niches. He is passionate about politics and economy and spends his free time watching news channels. He is also an expert on relationships.
