How Data Helped Prevent A Disaster: China Mends Its Ways, Provides Hydrological Info To Help Avert Floods

On Saturday, China’s flood alert data averted a crisis in the north-eastern states of Arunachal Pradesh and Assam. The hydrological data shared with India helped in evacuation and deployment of preventive measures.

China which stopped sharing this data after the stand-off between Indian and Chinese troops at Doklam last year, resumed it after an MoU for sharing hydrological data was signed in June earlier this year.

“China, however, shared those data with us even beyond the cut-off date of October 15 when it encountered an emergency situation (landslide-induced blocking of the main stream of Yarlung Zangpo/Brahmaputra river) to its side,” said the CWC (Central Water Commission) Chairman, S Masood Husain. “Chinese authorities, in fact, went out of the way and kept on sharing data with us at the CWC’s Dibrugarh division on hourly basis. It helped us take all precautionary measures and put Indian Air Force and NDRF on alert,” as reported by TOI.

S Masood Husain, CWC Chairman showcased the co-operation of both countries, by pointing out how the preparation, due to China’s active sharing of data, helped stave off disaster.

China also gave regular information to the Indian ambassador, who shared it with chief secretaries of both the countries.