Times of India, the

Countries in the Asia-Pacific region can assist each other in strengthening their disaster resilience by learning from each other. As different countries have specialized in different aspects of disaster risk reduction measures, knowledge resourcing and sharing in between them can help achieve more effective South-South co-operation.

The Indian Space Research Organisation (Isro) is working with NASA to develop a satellite that can map the movement of the earth before a landslide. The Nasa-Isro Synthetic Aperture Radar (NISAR) will make global measurements of the causes and consequences of land surface changes for integration into earth system models.

The Assam floods indicate how disaster impact is determined by several interrelated factors, unique to different parts of the same region. Disaster risk reduction efforts need to involve technological, social, cultural, economic, environmental, and governance initiatives. The wide spectrum ensures that unique local features are accounted for.

The Narendra Modi government has convened the national platform for disaster risk reduction (DRR) next month, a high level meeting to be attended by at least 15 cabinet ministers holding key portfolios besides scientists, UN representatives, disaster experts and other stakeholders.

India's government has developed a scientific tool based on a UN model that will use satellite imagery and on-ground assessments to measure direct and indirect damages due to disasters. India's estimated economic losses are around $10 billion annually from disasters - almost equal to what it spends on education and twice the amount spent on healthcare every year.

An earthquake early warning system, designed to detect seismic waves and blare a warning precious seconds before the temblor strikes, will be installed in Gurgaon next week, making it the first city in NCR to be equipped with such a device. But it will take some more time for it to act as a public warning system because the government is yet to procure public alarms.

Tsunami is an insurable risk, and hence an insurance company is not correct in denying the insured sum to a shipping company on the ground that tsunami is an earthquake-related activity not covered by marine insurance policy , Madras high court has said.

The private sector must play its role in disaster management in the country, minister of state for home Kiren Rijiju said on Monday, reports The Times of India. 'When disaster strikes, the poor are the first to be affected as factories and plants shut down and the economy is hit,' Rijiju said at the inaugural session of an international conference...