Amaravati, April 15: The National Remote Sensing Centre (NRSC) and the Andhra Pradesh State Disaster Management Authority (APSDMA) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Wednesday to collaboratively work on reducing fatalities caused by lightning strikes in the state.
This partnership aims to strengthen disaster management systems in Andhra Pradesh and enhance community preparedness to lower the number of lightning-related deaths.
According to government sources, the agreement will see both organizations identify ‘hotspot’ areas in the state prone to lightning strikes and conduct comprehensive risk assessments. The most affected regions will be pinpointed, and practical prevention strategies will be developed, alongside reinforcing safety measures across the state.
A key aspect of this initiative will be the enhancement of the early warning system, ensuring timely and accurate alerts for residents before lightning strikes occur.
The MoU was signed by Prakhar Jain, Managing Director of the State Disaster Management Authority, and Dr. Aparna, Deputy Director of NRSC.
Prakhar Jain noted that following the directives of Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu, the state government has made this crucial decision to gradually reduce lightning-related fatalities in rural areas.
He explained that the MoU, finalized at the APSDMA office, primarily aims to assist the state government in minimizing loss of life and property due to lightning strikes.
The event was attended by several disaster management officials, including K. Kausar Bano, Executive Director of APSDMA, and scientists from NRSC such as Muvva Venkata Raman, Alok Tori, Satyanarayana, and Venkatesh.
During a review meeting held last week, Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu instructed officials to utilize the latest technology to alert the public and prevent lightning-related deaths.
He emphasized that alerts should not be limited to mobile messages but should also engage field-level staff, providing information about potential threats to residents in specific tower areas through a network-based system.
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