Ncell customers residing in high-risk areas of floods and landslides will now receive early warning alerts of possible floods and landslides in their areas through SMS. Ncell, on Friday, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Department of Hydrology and Meteorology (DHM) for the early warning/alert system, which can help people to safety and prevent loss of property in areas where risk of floods and landslides is high.

According to the MoU, Ncell will henceforth provide forecasting and early warning information on hydro-meteorology related disasters such as floods and landslides through mass SMS to the people living in the downstream of West Rapti, Narayani, Kankai, Koshi, Bagmati, Karnali, Babai and Kamala rivers.

Under the pact, depending upon the situation, DHM will provide SMS content to Ncell and the company will send SMS to the people living in those areas. DHM that keeps track of the hydro and metrology situations will trigger the messaging based on water level in rivers, following which Ncell will immediately send early warning SMS from short code number 1155 to the customers living in the disaster prone areas based on the real time situation.

After receiving the message about the water level crossing the danger level, people can move to government-designated safe locations with their belongings. As soon as the water level returns to normal, SMS alert will again be sent to inform them that there is no immediate risk.

A total of 42 areas in downstream of various rivers have been included as disaster prone locations and depending upon the risks of floods and landslides, Ncell will send DHM approved SMS alert to the people.