Government Moves to Improve Communication During Natural Disasters

With the monsoon season bringing more rain and a higher risk of floods and landslides, Acting Prime Minister Prakash Man Singh and Communication Minister Prithvi Subba Gurung sat down to discuss how to make disaster alerts faster and more effective.

The meeting took place at the Ministry of Urban Development, where both leaders agreed that people need timely and reliable information when bad weather hits. They talked about the important role the Ministry of Communication can play in getting early warnings out to the public — especially during heavy rain or natural disasters.

This conversation came shortly after a meeting of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council, which emphasized the need to improve how weather warnings are shared, particularly after official forecasts are made.

Some of the steps being considered include sending emergency SMS messages to people living in high-risk areas, sharing real-time weather updates on local FM radio stations and social media, and using special phone alerts that make loud warning sounds to get people’s attention.

Minister Gurung said his ministry will work closely with other agencies to make sure important messages reach the public quickly. Acting Prime Minister Singh highlighted how a good early warning system can save lives and protect homes, and stressed the need to strengthen these systems across the country.