Private telecom operator Ncell and the Department of Hydrology and Meteorology (DHM) have reached an agreement for the Early Warning System (EWS) and will disseminate public alerts on up to 13 hydrological and meteorological disasters. The cooperation, Ncell will issue warnings pre-informing the users of imminent disasters via SMS.
This cooperation will let Ncell issue early warning alerts to the public on disasters including floods, flash food, rainfall, thunderstorms, and windgust. The list also includes landslides, avalanches, snowfall, heatwaves, cold weather, forest fires, air pollution, and tornados. Ncell and DHM signed the MoU for the Early Warning System on Wednesday (January 10, 2024).
Jabbor Kayumov, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and Managing Director (MD) of Ncell, and Dr. Jagadishwor Karmacharya, Director General of DHM, exchanged the MoU at a ceremony which was organized at Ncell’s corporate office Ncell ICON located in Lainchaur, Kathmandu.
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Ncell to send alerts on 13 more disasters
Jabbor Kayumov, CEO and MD of Ncell, further sharing his commitment to Nepal said, “We are proud to have this MOU in place with the DHM to further strengthen our Early Warning System extending our coverage to 13 hazards. This is a significant milestone in our commitment to enhancing the safety and well-being of the communities and people we serve. Ncell is proud to spearhead and lead the effort since 2016 that every Nepali is protected by early warning systems.
He further added, “This collaboration between Ncell and DHM is a great example of how public-private partnerships (PPP) can join forces to create a larger positive impact on our society which underscores our shared commitment to leveraging technology for the greater good in enhancing the well-being of Nepal and Nepali people. As we move forward, we are committed to investing in initiatives that contribute to the well-being of the people of Nepal as we are here for Nepal and Nepali people.”
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DHM Director Karmacharya thanks Ncell for pioneering the flood alert system in Nepal
Sharing his excitement, Dr. Jagadishwor Karmacharya, Director General of DHM said, “We are extremely thankful to Ncell for pioneering the Flood Early Warning System initiative in Nepal since 2016. Disseminating alerts in the event of impending disaster has proven to be a lifesaver for the survivors. This joint initiative is indeed a great example of grassroots-to-global action of putting the furthest behind first as envisioned in the recent UN’s ‘Early Warning for All’ initiative. This MoU is yet another milestone with the coverage of 10 additional meteorological hazards.
Ncell launched the Flood Early Warning System in Nepal in 2016. Since then, the CSR initiative has remained one of the telco’s top projects.
“With the support from Ncell and related stakeholders, we have been able to connect with the most vulnerable communities, and thousands of lives have been saved over the years. Despite increasing flood hazards due to climate change in recent years, the mortality rate due to flood has reduced significantly in Nepal since 2018 due to the collective efforts of all stakeholders and we wholeheartedly appreciate their efforts including Ncell,” he shared.
What is an Early Warning System?
An Early Warning System is a communication feature that pre-informs at-risk individuals and communities of imminent disasters with the objective of helping save lives. The system comprises a wide network of infrastructure including sensors, detection, and sending the warning to the public. In a country like Nepal which suffers from disasters such as floods, landslides, and earthquakes, an Early Warning System is a must-have service.
With this system in place, Ncell will be able to send warnings via SMS alerting people about the possible risk of expediting their evacuation to a safer location. Getting early alerts also helps organizations working in disaster response get time to act.
This new agreement extends Ncell’s involvement in this Corporate Social Responsibility effort. Since 2016, the operator has been issuing early warnings on floods with SMS to people living in flood-prone areas. In 2023 alone, the telco was responsible for sending over 9 million SMS alerts, pre-informing people about the possible flood risk. In just two months during the monsoon in 2023, Ncell sent over 44 lakh flood alerts.
FAQs to know about the Ncell Early Warning System in Nepal
If you are aware, Ncell has been providing Early Warning System with SMS alerts since 2016. The latest agreement further solidifies its commitment to help save lives expanding disasters to 13 different types. Here are the basic FAQs you need to know about Ncell and the DHM early warning system.
An Early Warning System refers to a setup designed to send a warning of a natural disaster before it occurs with the objective of saving lives.
Yes. Ncell sends flood alerts to users in flood-prone areas in Nepal via SMS.
Ncell sends flood and other disaster alerts by SMS upon request from the Department of Hydrology and Meteorology.
Users of Ncell get an early warning of floods on their SIM without having to register themselves. It’s a free-of-charge CSR from Ncell.
Ncell sends early warning and flood alerts via short code number 1155.
Ncell is Nepal’s leading private telecom company with users across the country. The early warning system will help millions of people with potentially life-saving information before any disaster occurs. Have you ever received any Ncell SMS before a disaster? How crucial was it? Do share with us in the comments below.
