By Bizodisha Bureau, Bhubaneswar, March 16, 2018: The Odisha government on Friday decided to engage the “integrated multi-hazard early warning system” to strengthen the prediction and response capability of the Odisha State Disaster Management Authority (OSDMA), an official release said.

Chief Secretary Aditya Prasad Padhi, OSDMA managing director Bishnupada Sethi and others held a meeting during the day to discuss the issue.

Officials of the Regional Integrated Multi-Hazard Early Warning System (RIMES) presented technical and methodological aspects of the system at the meeting.

The RIMES, an intergovernmental body registered under the United Nations, is owned and managed by 45 collaborating countries in the Asia Pacific and Africa Region. India is the chairman of the body.

Analysis of huge data likely to be generated from automatic weather stations being installed at gram panchayat levels, validation of the forecast, early warning and preparedness for lightening, heat wave, flood, draught and tsunami were identified as major areas of collaboration, the source said.

In collaboration with the RIMES, the OSDMA can also strengthen its database for more effective management of natural disasters, Sethi said after the meeting.

He said the collaboration would also help in transfer of best practices among different countries of the world.