BSDMA Partners with ISRO to Enhance Disaster Forecasting in Bihar

Patna: The Bihar State Disaster Management Authority (BSDMA) is set to collaborate with the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) to improve the accuracy of disaster forecasting, including floods, earthquakes, heat waves, cold waves, and lightning.

ISRO will focus on analysing the nature of Bihar’s rivers and improving flood forecasting capabilities. Additionally, the collaboration will utilise artificial intelligence and Machine Learning to enhance predictions for earthquakes and other natural disasters. This initiative will draw on India’s traditional knowledge, including Medini astrology, as a foundational element.

The BSDMA will implement disaster management policies using satellite data, aiming to mitigate flood damage through precise assessments of river depths and water flow estimations.

The announcement followed a visit from Nilesh M. Desai, Director of ISRO’s Space Application Center, and his team on Monday. The meeting, held in the BSDMA’s auditorium, coincided with the first anniversary of the Bihar Mausam Seva Kendra (BMSK).

The event was attended by BSDMA’s vice chairman, Dr. Uday Kant, Authority’s members PN Rai and Kaushal Kishore Mishra, Director of BMSK C.N. Prabhu, and other officials. During the visit, Dr. Uday Kant provided an overview of the Authority’s ongoing disaster management and mitigation efforts in Bihar, highlighting the programs initiated under the leadership of Chief Minister Nitish Kumar.

Impressed by BSDMA’s approach, ISOR’s Nilesh M. Desai expressed his admiration, noting that he had not seen such an active disaster management authority in any other state. He affirmed ISRO’s commitment to working closely with BSDMA on disaster management and forecasting.

This partnership promises to bolster Bihar’s resilience against natural disasters, leveraging advanced technology and traditional knowledge for a safer future.