Nepal to Deliver Seasonal Disaster Alerts via Phone Calls Starting This Monsoon Season
Photo source, EPA
Until now, seasonal disaster alerts in Nepal have been issued via SMS and toll-free numbers. However, an official has confirmed that starting this year’s monsoon season, preparations are underway to deliver these alerts directly through phone calls.
According to Vinod Parajuli, Senior Hydrologist and Chief of the Flood Forecasting Branch under the Department of Hydrology and Meteorology, delivering alerts via phone calls is expected to be a comparatively more effective method.
Though weather forecasts have become increasingly reliable, experts note that the dissemination of related information has not been sufficiently effective, highlighting the need for improvements in this area.
Deepak Aryal, former head of the Central Department of Hydrology at Tribhuvan University, suggests that delivering alerts via phone calls through the secretariats of mayors and rural municipality chiefs would increase effectiveness.
Officials report that recently issued disaster alerts have helped reduce fatalities caused by floods to some extent.
Why Deliver Alerts via Phone Calls?
Officials from the Department of Hydrology and Meteorology explain that since 2016, Nepal Telecom and Ncell have been supporting the delivery of disaster alerts via SMS.
Important water level information is provided for major rivers and their tributaries throughout the country.
“We have been sending SMS alerts to residents in risk areas during heavy rain, flash floods, and glacier lake outburst floods,” Senior Hydrologist Parajuli stated.
Due to complaints about SMS alerts arriving late, preparations have been made this week in cooperation with Nepal Telecom to start delivering such alerts via phone calls soon.
Photo source, EPA
Though the agreement does not explicitly detail the phone call service, efforts to implement it effectively are underway.
“Many ignore SMS alerts or turn off notifications at night, but phone calls ring and vibrate, significantly increasing effectiveness,” Parajuli explained.
“Discussions with telecom operators have concluded, and we have decided to start this new method during the forthcoming monsoon season.”
It is anticipated that network congestion might occur, as some residents in affected areas may not wish to receive phone calls.
“Calls will be directed to mayors, deputy mayors, ward chairpersons, disaster management personnel, and Red Cross workers, who will then help alert community members,” he added.
Who Will Cover the Cost of Phone Calls?
Nepal Telecom and Ncell have provided SMS alert services for disaster information as part of their corporate social responsibility for decades.
The Department of Hydrology and Meteorology will bear the associated phone call expenses.
Senior Hydrologist Parajuli confirmed that the department will cover these costs.
“Calls will be no longer than one minute, and each call will cost approximately one Nepalese rupee,” he explained.
Plans exist to raise funds from other sources to cover these expenses in the future.
He also noted that calls to Nepal Telecom’s toll-free number 1155 will remain free for the public, with the department bearing all costs.
Expected Effectiveness of This Initiative
Officials assert that current seasonal disaster alerts have proven effective so far.
These alerts have made a significant contribution to reducing human casualties.
Senior Hydrologist Parajuli cited statistics from the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority to support this claim.
“Flood-related human losses were once very high; now, flood-related deaths rank second or third among disaster fatalities,” he said.
In the former East Rapti area, flood deaths used to average 20 annually, but this has decreased to about 8 currently.
Photo source, EPA
However, some experts caution that the seasonal disaster early warning system has not yet achieved full effectiveness.
“Advances in technology have made our weather forecasts more reliable,” said Deepak Aryal of Tribhuvan University.
“Yet, the effective dissemination of these alerts remains a challenge that requires attention,” he added.
He suggested that calling the secretariats of mayors and deputy mayors to deliver alerts is more practical than direct calls, as these officials often have busy schedules.
He emphasized the need for local governments to invest in improving early warning systems and forecasting capabilities.
