The Chhattisgarh state government is intensifying the use of digital platforms to ensure citizen safety and awareness as the monsoon season begins. An awareness campaign highlights three mobile applications—Damini, Meghdoot, and Sachet—alongside the 24-hour disaster helpline number 1070. These tools deliver weather forecasts, safety guidelines, and early warnings to the public.
Chief Secretary Directs Awareness Drives
Chief Secretary Vikas Sheel has instructed officials to launch extensive awareness campaigns for disaster management and weather forecasting mobile applications. The goal is to ensure that early warnings reach every citizen. Approximately 90% of Chhattisgarh's annual rainfall occurs during the southwest monsoon, with July and August experiencing the heaviest downpours. While beneficial for agriculture, these rains also bring risks of floods, lightning strikes, and waterlogging.
Damini App: Lightning Risk Tracker
The Damini application monitors lightning hazards. It issues advance alerts about lightning activity within a specific radius, enabling outdoor workers, farmers, and laborers to seek shelter before a thunderstorm intensifies. The app also provides safety protocols to follow during storms.
Meghdoot App: Agricultural Advisories
For farmers, the Meghdoot application offers localized weather updates and agricultural advisories. Farmers can use these alerts to plan sowing, irrigation, fertilizer application, and harvesting around weather changes, thereby minimizing crop damage and reducing exposure to heavy rain.
Sachet App: Real-Time Disaster Alerts
The Sachet application delivers real-time, geo-targeted alerts for multiple disaster scenarios. Users receive notifications based on their current location or can track other districts. It includes emergency contact numbers, safety protocols, and updates in 12 languages.
24-Hour Helpline 1070
Supporting these digital platforms is the round-the-clock state disaster helpline, 1070. Citizens can call this number to report emergencies, seek rescue assistance, or obtain official information during floods.
Administrative officials emphasized that the effectiveness of these tools depends on community adoption. A timely lightning alert allows laborers to move indoors, and real-time flood updates help families evacuate vulnerable areas before conditions worsen.
Chief Minister's Appeal
Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai has urged the public to download these applications. He stated that timely information saves lives during the monsoon. Farmers, laborers, and outdoor workers should use Sachet, Damini, and Meghdoot for regular weather updates and early warnings. These apps help individuals take precautions and avoid risks during severe weather. Citizens are also advised to note the emergency helpline 1070 and share it with their families, the chief minister added.
