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New Delhi : Dr. M. Rajeevan, Secretary, Ministry of Earth Sciences, on October 22, 2020, launched Flash Flood Guidance services, first of its kind, for South Asian countries namely India, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Nepal, and Sri Lanka.
The system was launched virtually and was participated by distinguished National and International dignitaries including Dr Hwirin Kim (Head of Hydrological and Water Resources Services Division, World Meteorological Organization), Dr Konstantine P Georgakakos (Director, Hydrologic Research Centre, USA), G VV Sarma IAS (Member Secretary NDMA, India), Dr Rajendra Kumar Jain (Chairman, Central Water Commission, India) and Director General of Meteorology, and Permanent Representative with WMO of the participating countries namely Karma Dupchu (Bhutan), Saraju Kumar Baidya (Nepal), Athula Karunanayake (Sri Lanka), and Bidyut Kumar Saha (Hydrological Advisor to PR of Bangladesh to WMO).
Dr M Rajeevan,who was the Chief Guest of the function, in his inaugural address, brought out the need for enhancing the observational network for rainfall and soil moisture to improvise the performance of the system. An automated mode of dissemination is to be established with the stakeholders along with the use of social media, so that the information reaches to disaster authorities concerned in a timely manner. Regional and International coordination with member countries, Hydrologic Research Center & World Meteorological Organisation, must be strengthened for exchange of data, expertise, development and sustaining the services in the region, Dr Rajeevan said.
Dr. M Mohapatra, Director General of India Meteorological Department (IMD) and Permanent Representative of India with WMO,who delivered the opening address, highlighted salient features of the system and appreciated the collaborative work done in the field of capacity building for forecasting hydro-meteorological hazards. He assured the member nations that the Guidance for flash floods in the form of Threats (6 hours in advance) and Risks (24 hours in advance) will be provided by Regional Centre to National Meteorological & Hydrological Services, National and State Disaster Management Authorities and all other stakeholders for taking necessary mitigation measures to reduce the loss of life and property in the South Asian Region countries.
Flash Floods are highly localised events of short duration with a very high peak and usually have less than six hours between the occurrence of the rainfall and peak flood. There is general lack of flash flood warning capabilities and capacities of the nations across the world. Recognising that flash floods have a particularly disastrous impact on lives and properties of the affected populations, the Fifteenth WMO Congress had approved the implementation of a Flash Flood Guidance System (FFGS) project with global coverage that had been developed by the WMO Commission for Hydrology jointly with the WMO Commission for Basic Systems in collaboration with the US National Weather Service, the US Hydrologic Research Center (HRC) and USAID/OFDA, according to a PIB release.
India Meteorological Department has highly advanced capabilities with respect to computing power, Numerical Weather Prediction, vast observational network (ground, air and space based), and an internationally acclaimed Weather Forecasting System. Therefore, WMO has entrusted India with the responsibility of Regional Centre of South Asia Flash Flood Guidance System for coordination, development and its implementation.
The Flash Flood Guidance is a robust system designed to provide the necessary products in real-time to support the development of warnings for flash floods about 6- 12 hrs. in advance at the watershed level with resolution of 4kmx4km for the Flash Flood prone South Asian countries viz. India, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka.