Himalayan News Service

Kathmandu, March 16:

Representatives from the national and international institutes began a two-day consultative meeting here today on establishing a Regional Flood Information System in the Hind-Kush Himalaya (HKH) region.

The meet is assessing the current capacity and identifying priorities for flood forecasting and information exchange in Nepal and selecting hydro-meteorological stations for exchange of real-time data and information in a regional framework with countries in the HKH nation. The meeting is also expected to nominate candidate basins and finalise hydrometerological network for pilot studies.

The national consultation meeting is a part of first phase of establishment of regional flood information system which includes feasibility study and infrastructure testing. National consultations have so far been held in Bangladesh, Bhutan, China and Pakistan under the aegis of the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development(ICIMOD) and World Meteorological Organisation(WMO).