Collectorate chatbot to provide real time weather updates and disaster helpline support
Nagpur: With the early onset of the monsoon, the district collectorate has supercharged its WhatsApp chatbot, which was already familiar to citizens for lodging complaints, by turning it into a digital disaster response hub.
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Now, in addition to complaint handling, the chatbot offers real-time weather updates, flood alerts, and direct access to emergency contacts, making it a lifeline in times of crisis.
Earlier, users texting 'Hi' to the chatbot at 8669494944 would get three choices: Collectorate, Tehsil Office, and Nagar Parishad. In a recent update, the Tehsil Office and Nagar Parishad were merged into one option. The third option was replaced with a new 'Disaster Management' section, considered a critical feature as the monsoon approaches.
"It's not just about convenience, it's about saving time when it matters most. We've made sure citizens have all the information they need, right in their phones," said a senior official from the district administration, who confirmed the rollout.
Once inside the Disaster Management section, users can access real-time weather forecasts for the next five days, complete with rainfall predictions, temperature highs and lows, and official warnings issued for the region.
The data isn't generic; it's location-specific and updated in real time to reflect the latest alerts from meteorological and disaster authorities.
The service goes much further. Users can also check current water levels in lakes, rivers, and dams across the district, which is considered a crucial tool in flood-prone areas. In addition, the chatbot provides PDFs and official documents, including the district's Disaster Management Plan, the Heatwave Action Plan, maps showing flood-prone villages, water flow maps, and detailed rainfall analysis broken down by taluka.
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Sources in the department said that while the new feature was rolled out and is already accessible to the public, some elements are still a work in progress and will be fully functional in the coming days. From precautions to take in extreme weather to legal guidelines under the Disaster Management Act, the platform is packed with practical, actionable content.
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