Chitral’s varying elevations lead to correspondingly variable climatic conditions, with the weather rapidly changing with little warning. The one weather observatory in main Chitral city thus cannot provide data that is enough to issue timely and accurate alerts for the upper and lower parts of the district.

But with the installation of an automated weather station, automated rain gauge and other met related equipment by Pakistan GLOF Project in the upper isolated and vulnerable parts of the district, now it has become far easier to forecast climatic conditions for upper Chitral and issue alerts. During the recent floods in Chitral, based on the data provided by the above mentioned equipment installed in Bindo valley, regular alerts and warnings were shared with district administration and communities. As a result chances of casualties were reduced significantly. Though, during the first phase of the flooding which continued from July 15 to 20, 2015 all stakeholders were reluctant to pay heed to these alerts.

However, during the second and more devastating phase of disasters, which started from July 21 onward, communities realised the importance of the alerts / warnings. As a result losses from the disasters were reduced significantly.

Published in Dawn, Sunday Magazine, August 23rd, 2015

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