“IMD Chief Mrutyunjay Mohapatra: Government Extending Support to Five Nations in Early Warning System Development”

ndia, led by Mr. Mrutyunjay Mohapatra, Director General of the India Meteorological Department (IMD), is actively supporting Nepal, Maldives, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, and Mauritius in establishing early warning systems to mitigate the impact of extreme weather events. This effort aligns with the UN’s ‘Early Warnings for All’ program, aiming for global protection from hazardous weather events by 2027. Despite facing financial and technical challenges, India is committed to assisting through public-private partnerships, offering financial aid and technical expertise to enhance meteorological observations and deploy decision support systems.

Mr. Mohapatra stresses the vital importance of such systems, particularly in vulnerable regions like small island nations, where the lack of early warnings leads to significant 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) highlights the urgent need to enhance these systems, given the alarming increase in disasters since 1970, with water-related events posing the most prevalent global threat.