India government develops scientific tool to measure loss due to disasters

By Pradeep Thakur

The government has developed a scientific tool based on a UN model which will use satellite imagery and on-ground assessments to measure direct and indirect damages besides the 'opportunity cost' lost due to disasters. This will help the Centre make a more accurate and scientific assessment of relief and reconstruction packages for disaster-hit regions, and not be dependent on the arbitrary claims made by states.

India's estimated economic losses are pegged at around $10 billion annually on account of disasters — almost equal to what the country spends on education and twice the amount it spends on healthcare every year. Globally, climate change resulted in economic losses of around $300 billion annually, according to the UN Office for Disaster Risk Reduction's (UNISDR) global assessment report-2015.