Get weather-alert via SMS

NEW DELHI: The Earth System Science Organization–India Meteorological Department (ESSO-IMD) has launched an SMS-based alert system for general public for dissemination of weather and disaster-related (cyclone, severe weather storms, heavy rains) information, according to the Union Minister for Science &Technology and Earth Sciences.

Under this round-the-clock web-based operational system, the ESSO-IMD will send SMS to individuals who would register themselves at the weather forecaster's official website (www.imd.gov.in) for this purpose. Besides giving information about natural calamities, the system will also suggest what action needs to be taken.

In addition for countries in the North Indian Ocean, a free registration procedure has been started in the ESSO-IMD at Regional Specialized Meteorological Centre (RSMC), cyclone Website.

“ESSO-IMD has started sending SMS based Cyclone/Tsunami/ Earthquakes parameters based alerts to disaster managers of Government of India like National Disaster Management and their Control Room of the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), Central Water Commission (CWC) and DG Shipping etc. along with the disaster managers of the states in 2012,” said Union Minister for Science & Technology and Earth Sciences Harsh Vardhan in a reply to a question in the Rajya Sabha.

“ESSO-IMD has also launched a mobile application for Android based smartphone/tablets on Good Governance Day Observed on December 25, 2014. The mobile app by the name ‘Indian Weather’ is downloadable from Google play store, free of cost. Presently, the app provides current weather and four days weather forecast across the country for 310 cities. The mobile app. shall also be hosted for free download from the government mobile app store,” he informed.

“The Gramin Krishi Mausam Seva (GKMS) of the ESSO-IMD has been successful in providing the crop specific advisories to the farmers at the district level twice weekly through different print/visual/Radio/ IT based wider dissemination media including short message service (SMS) and Integrated Voice Response System (IVRS) directly to farming community,” he added.