Suhail Bhat
Srinagar, May 13: Amid escalating lightning strikes in Kashmir, people are shockingly ignorant about the life-saving Damini app created by the Meteorological Department, promoting the initiative to begin an awareness campaign about the app.
At least five people have perished in the Valley in the past week due to lightning strikes, including a newlywed couple in South Kashmir’s Pampore area. Although most residents are still unaware of the app, it is hoped that with the Meteorological Department’s upcoming promotion, this life-saving program will be given the needed attention it deserves, increasing app use and sharply reducing lightning-related disasters.
The GPS-based Damini software provides users with access to both their precise position and a 40-kilometer radius around it. The immediate area is further divided into two zones using a 20- and 40-km radius. In order to predict the chance of lightning in the near future, the software uses a color-coded method: red indicates a possible occurrence within 7 minutes, yellow within 14 minutes, and blue within 21 minutes. By disseminating this crucial information, the Damini app has the potential to drastically lower lightning-related incidents.
Locals think that broad knowledge about the Damini app can dramatically lower the number of fatalities caused by lightning strikes in the future. They draw attention to the app’s capacity to offer pertinent information and important safety advice in lightning-prone locations.
Local resident Mohammad Shafi expressed his amazement at finding out about the Damini app so recently. He emphasised the potential advantages of the app’s information and urged people to use it. “Everyone should use it as it can help prevent being struck by lightning and save themselves,” he said.
Another local, Firdous Ahmed, shared a first-hand account of lightning-related deaths in his neighborhood while emphasizing the need for information about the app to be made widely available. “Considering the prevalence of smartphones in today’s modern age, the Damini app, being free and user-friendly, can be a crucial tool in saving lives,” Firdous Ahmed said. All that is needed, he added, is a determined effort to raise awareness of the app and encourage its widespread adoption.
The Meteorological Department emphasizes that all pertinent information, including safety measures, is easily accessible on its website and the internet and that people should maintain vigilance at all times. However, they also acknowledge the need to close the app awareness gap and have promised to launch special marketing to secure its acceptance by the general population.
Mukhtar Ahmed, the Meteorological Department’s Deputy Director, said that lightning events are seasonal, occurring more frequently in the months of March, April, May, and June. In order to reduce the risks associated with lightning strikes, he emphasized the necessity of adhering to the regulations set forth by the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) and the State Disaster Management Authority (SDMA). He said that the department would launch a comprehensive campaign to promote the application using social media, radio, television, and other platforms. “To be vigilant, nevertheless, is everyone’s obligation,” he added.
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