Latest news with #HeatwaveActionPlan
Time of India
30-05-2025
- Climate
- Time of India
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. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now 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. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now 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.
Hans India
02-05-2025
- Climate
- Hans India
Telangana Rolls Out Heatwave Action Plan 2025
Telangana government today rolled out its official Heatwave Action Plan (HAP) 2025, focusing on localized risk mapping and mandal-level interventions across the state. Minister P. Srinivas Reddy released the report, which includes a full-fledged heat stress and vulnerability assessment for all 33 districts. The state, which had earlier classified heatwave as a state-specific disaster, has now detailed the plan to identify high-risk zones and implement preventive strategies to reduce the impact of rising temperatures. As part of the HAP 2025, a comprehensive Heatwave Vulnerability Map has been prepared by the Telangana State Development Planning Society (TSDPS). The map classifies all mandals based on historical heatwave data and population exposure over the past several years. Mandal-Wise Heatwave Exposure Classification: 1. Severe – ≥4 years of severe heatwaves & ≥6 years of heatwave exposure (6 mandals, 4.98 lakh people) 2. Critical – >2 years of severe and >4 years of heatwave conditions (106 mandals, 50.64 lakh people) 3. Semi-Critical – ≥1 year severe, >1 year heatwave incidence (189 mandals, 106.19 lakh people) 4. Vigilant – No severe years, but ≥1 year of general heatwave exposure (287 mandals, 178.53 lakh people) 5. Safe – Zero heatwave events recorded (24 mandals, 9.86 lakh people) The state capital Hyderabad and surrounding urban mandals fall under the "Vigilant" and 'Safe' categories. Most Hyderabad mandals show no severe heatwave occurrences, though some areas have faced non-severe heatwave events in isolated years. A few southern and southwestern fringes near Ranga Reddy and Medchal-Malkajgiri are marked in the safe zone, with no heatwave impact noted. Heat-sensitive mandals with severe and critical risk are mainly concentrated in north, east, and southeastern Telangana, notably across Nizamabad, Peddapalli, Jayashankar Bhupalpally, and Bhadradri Kothagudem. These areas have witnessed repeated high-temperature spells over recent years.
The Hindu
02-05-2025
- Health
- The Hindu
Divide workers into two groups in hot areas, give 1-2 hours' rest, says Revenue Minister amid heatwave conditions in Telangana
Amidst the sweltering heatwave conditions in Telangana, Revenue Minister Ponguleti Srinivasa Reddy directed Industries and Commerce department officials to instruct companies to adopt a rotation system by dividing workers — working in hot areas — into two units and giving them one or two hours of rest. The State Labour department was directed to focus on providing medical resources such as ORS, drinking water, shelter and rest to solid waste management workers. The instructions were given at a meeting held on Friday, May 2, 2025, chaired by the Revenue Minister with officials from 12 departments on the heatwave conditions in the State, preparations to be taken, Heatwave Action Plan (HAP)-2025, ex gratia for heatwave deaths and other aspects. Over a week ago, Union Labour Minister Mansukh Mandaviya said that the Ministry has written to Chief Secretaries and administrators on the need to issue directions to employers, construction companies, and industries to put in place necessary steps to mitigate the adverse effects of extreme heatwave conditions on workers. Besides, the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) on Thursday asked 11 States, including Telangana, to take immediate pre-emptive measures to protect vulnerable people, especially those from poorer communities. The Revenue Minister said that 588 of the 612 mandals in Telangana were classified as heatwave-affected mandals. The government has declared heatwaves, sunstrokes and sunburns as a 'State-Specific Disaster'. It has also enhanced the ex gratia provided to families of heatwave victims from ₹50,000 to ₹4 lakh. Officials from the Health department were asked to focus on conducting fire safety audit at hospitals, providing ORS packets at health facilities, disseminating information among people about precautions to be taken when experiencing high temperatures and other aspects.
