FLOODWATCH INDIA (Syllabus: GS Paper 3 – Disaster Management)

Context: Recently, the Union Minister for Jal Shakti launched the Version 2.0 of the ‘FloodWatch India’ mobile application developed by the Central Water Commission (CWC).

FloodWatch India

• About: It provides real-time information on the flood situation and forecasts up to 7 days ahead for the public.
• Feature:

oAdvance Flood Forecasting: The app can forecast the likelihood of floods a day in advance and offers a seven-day advisory on potential flooding at various stations.

oVisual Risk Indicators: A map of India in the app shows colored circles at water stations across the country to indicate the current flood risk—green for 'normal,' yellow for 'above normal,' orange for 'severe,' and red for 'extreme.'

oStation Information: Clicking on a circle reveals details such as the current water level, the highest historical level, the danger level, and the warning level at that station.

oMultilingual Warnings: The warnings are provided in English or Hindi, with an option for voice-enabled prompts.

oState-wise Forecasts: The app offers State-wise or basin-wide flood forecasts for up to 24 hours and flood advisories for up to seven days, accessible by selecting specific stations.

oAdvanced Technologies: Floodwatch utilizes satellite data analysis, mathematical modeling, and real-time monitoring to deliver accurate and timely flood forecasts.

oEssential Flood Information Access: The app allows users to access crucial information regarding flood situations, ensuring they are well-informed and prepared.