The government is assisting five nations in developing early warning systems, says IMD chief Mr. Mrutyunjay Mohapatra.

India, under the guidance of Mr. Mrutyunjay Mohapatra, the director general of the India Meteorological Department (IMD), is actively assisting Nepal, Maldives, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, and Mauritius in establishing early warning systems to mitigate the impact of extreme weather events. This initiative aligns with the UN's 'Early Warnings for All' program, aiming for global protection from hazardous weather events by 2027. Despite financial and technical challenges, India pledges support through public-private partnerships, providing both financial aid and technical expertise to bolster meteorological observations and deploy decision support systems.

He emphasizes the critical need for such systems, particularly in vulnerable regions like small island nations, where the absence of early warnings results in substantial loss of life and property. Collaborative efforts involve sharing forecasts and warnings, with national ministries facilitating data exchange and dissemination. However, a report by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) underscores the urgency of enhancing these systems, given the alarming increase in disasters since 1970, with water-related events posing the most prevalent global threat.

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