Deprecated (16384): The ArrayAccess methods will be removed in 4.0.0.Use getParam(), getData() and getQuery() instead. - /home/brlfuser/public_html/src/Controller/ArtileDetailController.php, line: 150
 You can disable deprecation warnings by setting `Error.errorLevel` to `E_ALL & ~E_USER_DEPRECATED` in your config/app.php. [CORE/src/Core/functions.php, line 311]
Code Context


        trigger_error($message, E_USER_DEPRECATED);

    }
$message = 'The ArrayAccess methods will be removed in 4.0.0.Use getParam(), getData() and getQuery() instead. - /home/brlfuser/public_html/src/Controller/ArtileDetailController.php, line: 150
 You can disable deprecation warnings by setting `Error.errorLevel` to `E_ALL & ~E_USER_DEPRECATED` in your config/app.php.'
$stackFrame = (int) 1
$trace = [
	(int) 0 => [
		'file' => '/home/brlfuser/public_html/vendor/cakephp/cakephp/src/Http/ServerRequest.php',
		'line' => (int) 2421,
		'function' => 'deprecationWarning',
		'args' => [
			(int) 0 => 'The ArrayAccess methods will be removed in 4.0.0.Use getParam(), getData() and getQuery() instead.'
		]
	],
	(int) 1 => [
		'file' => '/home/brlfuser/public_html/src/Controller/ArtileDetailController.php',
		'line' => (int) 150,
		'function' => 'offsetGet',
		'class' => 'Cake\Http\ServerRequest',
		'object' => object(Cake\Http\ServerRequest) {},
		'type' => '->',
		'args' => [
			(int) 0 => 'catslug'
		]
	],
	(int) 2 => [
		'file' => '/home/brlfuser/public_html/vendor/cakephp/cakephp/src/Controller/Controller.php',
		'line' => (int) 610,
		'function' => 'index',
		'class' => 'App\Controller\ArtileDetailController',
		'object' => object(App\Controller\ArtileDetailController) {},
		'type' => '->',
		'args' => []
	],
	(int) 3 => [
		'file' => '/home/brlfuser/public_html/vendor/cakephp/cakephp/src/Http/ActionDispatcher.php',
		'line' => (int) 120,
		'function' => 'invokeAction',
		'class' => 'Cake\Controller\Controller',
		'object' => object(App\Controller\ArtileDetailController) {},
		'type' => '->',
		'args' => []
	],
	(int) 4 => [
		'file' => '/home/brlfuser/public_html/vendor/cakephp/cakephp/src/Http/ActionDispatcher.php',
		'line' => (int) 94,
		'function' => '_invoke',
		'class' => 'Cake\Http\ActionDispatcher',
		'object' => object(Cake\Http\ActionDispatcher) {},
		'type' => '->',
		'args' => [
			(int) 0 => object(App\Controller\ArtileDetailController) {}
		]
	],
	(int) 5 => [
		'file' => '/home/brlfuser/public_html/vendor/cakephp/cakephp/src/Http/BaseApplication.php',
		'line' => (int) 235,
		'function' => 'dispatch',
		'class' => 'Cake\Http\ActionDispatcher',
		'object' => object(Cake\Http\ActionDispatcher) {},
		'type' => '->',
		'args' => [
			(int) 0 => object(Cake\Http\ServerRequest) {},
			(int) 1 => object(Cake\Http\Response) {}
		]
	],
	(int) 6 => [
		'file' => '/home/brlfuser/public_html/vendor/cakephp/cakephp/src/Http/Runner.php',
		'line' => (int) 65,
		'function' => '__invoke',
		'class' => 'Cake\Http\BaseApplication',
		'object' => object(App\Application) {},
		'type' => '->',
		'args' => [
			(int) 0 => object(Cake\Http\ServerRequest) {},
			(int) 1 => object(Cake\Http\Response) {},
			(int) 2 => object(Cake\Http\Runner) {}
		]
	],
	(int) 7 => [
		'file' => '/home/brlfuser/public_html/vendor/cakephp/cakephp/src/Routing/Middleware/RoutingMiddleware.php',
		'line' => (int) 162,
		'function' => '__invoke',
		'class' => 'Cake\Http\Runner',
		'object' => object(Cake\Http\Runner) {},
		'type' => '->',
		'args' => [
			(int) 0 => object(Cake\Http\ServerRequest) {},
			(int) 1 => object(Cake\Http\Response) {}
		]
	],
	(int) 8 => [
		'file' => '/home/brlfuser/public_html/vendor/cakephp/cakephp/src/Http/Runner.php',
		'line' => (int) 65,
		'function' => '__invoke',
		'class' => 'Cake\Routing\Middleware\RoutingMiddleware',
		'object' => object(Cake\Routing\Middleware\RoutingMiddleware) {},
		'type' => '->',
		'args' => [
			(int) 0 => object(Cake\Http\ServerRequest) {},
			(int) 1 => object(Cake\Http\Response) {},
			(int) 2 => object(Cake\Http\Runner) {}
		]
	],
	(int) 9 => [
		'file' => '/home/brlfuser/public_html/vendor/cakephp/cakephp/src/Routing/Middleware/AssetMiddleware.php',
		'line' => (int) 97,
		'function' => '__invoke',
		'class' => 'Cake\Http\Runner',
		'object' => object(Cake\Http\Runner) {},
		'type' => '->',
		'args' => [
			(int) 0 => object(Cake\Http\ServerRequest) {},
			(int) 1 => object(Cake\Http\Response) {}
		]
	],
	(int) 10 => [
		'file' => '/home/brlfuser/public_html/vendor/cakephp/cakephp/src/Http/Runner.php',
		'line' => (int) 65,
		'function' => '__invoke',
		'class' => 'Cake\Routing\Middleware\AssetMiddleware',
		'object' => object(Cake\Routing\Middleware\AssetMiddleware) {},
		'type' => '->',
		'args' => [
			(int) 0 => object(Cake\Http\ServerRequest) {},
			(int) 1 => object(Cake\Http\Response) {},
			(int) 2 => object(Cake\Http\Runner) {}
		]
	],
	(int) 11 => [
		'file' => '/home/brlfuser/public_html/vendor/cakephp/cakephp/src/Error/Middleware/ErrorHandlerMiddleware.php',
		'line' => (int) 96,
		'function' => '__invoke',
		'class' => 'Cake\Http\Runner',
		'object' => object(Cake\Http\Runner) {},
		'type' => '->',
		'args' => [
			(int) 0 => object(Cake\Http\ServerRequest) {},
			(int) 1 => object(Cake\Http\Response) {}
		]
	],
	(int) 12 => [
		'file' => '/home/brlfuser/public_html/vendor/cakephp/cakephp/src/Http/Runner.php',
		'line' => (int) 65,
		'function' => '__invoke',
		'class' => 'Cake\Error\Middleware\ErrorHandlerMiddleware',
		'object' => object(Cake\Error\Middleware\ErrorHandlerMiddleware) {},
		'type' => '->',
		'args' => [
			(int) 0 => object(Cake\Http\ServerRequest) {},
			(int) 1 => object(Cake\Http\Response) {},
			(int) 2 => object(Cake\Http\Runner) {}
		]
	],
	(int) 13 => [
		'file' => '/home/brlfuser/public_html/vendor/cakephp/cakephp/src/Http/Runner.php',
		'line' => (int) 51,
		'function' => '__invoke',
		'class' => 'Cake\Http\Runner',
		'object' => object(Cake\Http\Runner) {},
		'type' => '->',
		'args' => [
			(int) 0 => object(Cake\Http\ServerRequest) {},
			(int) 1 => object(Cake\Http\Response) {}
		]
	],
	(int) 14 => [
		'file' => '/home/brlfuser/public_html/vendor/cakephp/cakephp/src/Http/Server.php',
		'line' => (int) 98,
		'function' => 'run',
		'class' => 'Cake\Http\Runner',
		'object' => object(Cake\Http\Runner) {},
		'type' => '->',
		'args' => [
			(int) 0 => object(Cake\Http\MiddlewareQueue) {},
			(int) 1 => object(Cake\Http\ServerRequest) {},
			(int) 2 => object(Cake\Http\Response) {}
		]
	],
	(int) 15 => [
		'file' => '/home/brlfuser/public_html/webroot/index.php',
		'line' => (int) 39,
		'function' => 'run',
		'class' => 'Cake\Http\Server',
		'object' => object(Cake\Http\Server) {},
		'type' => '->',
		'args' => []
	]
]
$frame = [
	'file' => '/home/brlfuser/public_html/src/Controller/ArtileDetailController.php',
	'line' => (int) 150,
	'function' => 'offsetGet',
	'class' => 'Cake\Http\ServerRequest',
	'object' => object(Cake\Http\ServerRequest) {
		trustProxy => false
		[protected] params => [
			[maximum depth reached]
		]
		[protected] data => [[maximum depth reached]]
		[protected] query => [[maximum depth reached]]
		[protected] cookies => [[maximum depth reached]]
		[protected] _environment => [
			[maximum depth reached]
		]
		[protected] url => 'technology/how-whatsapp-messages-from-bhutan-are-saving-lives-in-assam-shailendra-yashwant-4687529.html'
		[protected] base => ''
		[protected] webroot => '/'
		[protected] here => '/technology/how-whatsapp-messages-from-bhutan-are-saving-lives-in-assam-shailendra-yashwant-4687529.html'
		[protected] trustedProxies => [[maximum depth reached]]
		[protected] _input => null
		[protected] _detectors => [
			[maximum depth reached]
		]
		[protected] _detectorCache => [
			[maximum depth reached]
		]
		[protected] stream => object(Zend\Diactoros\PhpInputStream) {}
		[protected] uri => object(Zend\Diactoros\Uri) {}
		[protected] session => object(Cake\Http\Session) {}
		[protected] attributes => [[maximum depth reached]]
		[protected] emulatedAttributes => [
			[maximum depth reached]
		]
		[protected] uploadedFiles => [[maximum depth reached]]
		[protected] protocol => null
		[protected] requestTarget => null
		[private] deprecatedProperties => [
			[maximum depth reached]
		]
	},
	'type' => '->',
	'args' => [
		(int) 0 => 'catslug'
	]
]
deprecationWarning - CORE/src/Core/functions.php, line 311
Cake\Http\ServerRequest::offsetGet() - CORE/src/Http/ServerRequest.php, line 2421
App\Controller\ArtileDetailController::index() - APP/Controller/ArtileDetailController.php, line 150
Cake\Controller\Controller::invokeAction() - CORE/src/Controller/Controller.php, line 610
Cake\Http\ActionDispatcher::_invoke() - CORE/src/Http/ActionDispatcher.php, line 120
Cake\Http\ActionDispatcher::dispatch() - CORE/src/Http/ActionDispatcher.php, line 94
Cake\Http\BaseApplication::__invoke() - CORE/src/Http/BaseApplication.php, line 235
Cake\Http\Runner::__invoke() - CORE/src/Http/Runner.php, line 65
Cake\Routing\Middleware\RoutingMiddleware::__invoke() - CORE/src/Routing/Middleware/RoutingMiddleware.php, line 162
Cake\Http\Runner::__invoke() - CORE/src/Http/Runner.php, line 65
Cake\Routing\Middleware\AssetMiddleware::__invoke() - CORE/src/Routing/Middleware/AssetMiddleware.php, line 97
Cake\Http\Runner::__invoke() - CORE/src/Http/Runner.php, line 65
Cake\Error\Middleware\ErrorHandlerMiddleware::__invoke() - CORE/src/Error/Middleware/ErrorHandlerMiddleware.php, line 96
Cake\Http\Runner::__invoke() - CORE/src/Http/Runner.php, line 65
Cake\Http\Runner::run() - CORE/src/Http/Runner.php, line 51
Cake\Http\Server::run() - CORE/src/Http/Server.php, line 98

Deprecated (16384): The ArrayAccess methods will be removed in 4.0.0.Use getParam(), getData() and getQuery() instead. - /home/brlfuser/public_html/src/Controller/ArtileDetailController.php, line: 151
 You can disable deprecation warnings by setting `Error.errorLevel` to `E_ALL & ~E_USER_DEPRECATED` in your config/app.php. [CORE/src/Core/functions.php, line 311]
Code Context


        trigger_error($message, E_USER_DEPRECATED);

    }
$message = 'The ArrayAccess methods will be removed in 4.0.0.Use getParam(), getData() and getQuery() instead. - /home/brlfuser/public_html/src/Controller/ArtileDetailController.php, line: 151
 You can disable deprecation warnings by setting `Error.errorLevel` to `E_ALL & ~E_USER_DEPRECATED` in your config/app.php.'
$stackFrame = (int) 1
$trace = [
	(int) 0 => [
		'file' => '/home/brlfuser/public_html/vendor/cakephp/cakephp/src/Http/ServerRequest.php',
		'line' => (int) 2421,
		'function' => 'deprecationWarning',
		'args' => [
			(int) 0 => 'The ArrayAccess methods will be removed in 4.0.0.Use getParam(), getData() and getQuery() instead.'
		]
	],
	(int) 1 => [
		'file' => '/home/brlfuser/public_html/src/Controller/ArtileDetailController.php',
		'line' => (int) 151,
		'function' => 'offsetGet',
		'class' => 'Cake\Http\ServerRequest',
		'object' => object(Cake\Http\ServerRequest) {},
		'type' => '->',
		'args' => [
			(int) 0 => 'artileslug'
		]
	],
	(int) 2 => [
		'file' => '/home/brlfuser/public_html/vendor/cakephp/cakephp/src/Controller/Controller.php',
		'line' => (int) 610,
		'function' => 'index',
		'class' => 'App\Controller\ArtileDetailController',
		'object' => object(App\Controller\ArtileDetailController) {},
		'type' => '->',
		'args' => []
	],
	(int) 3 => [
		'file' => '/home/brlfuser/public_html/vendor/cakephp/cakephp/src/Http/ActionDispatcher.php',
		'line' => (int) 120,
		'function' => 'invokeAction',
		'class' => 'Cake\Controller\Controller',
		'object' => object(App\Controller\ArtileDetailController) {},
		'type' => '->',
		'args' => []
	],
	(int) 4 => [
		'file' => '/home/brlfuser/public_html/vendor/cakephp/cakephp/src/Http/ActionDispatcher.php',
		'line' => (int) 94,
		'function' => '_invoke',
		'class' => 'Cake\Http\ActionDispatcher',
		'object' => object(Cake\Http\ActionDispatcher) {},
		'type' => '->',
		'args' => [
			(int) 0 => object(App\Controller\ArtileDetailController) {}
		]
	],
	(int) 5 => [
		'file' => '/home/brlfuser/public_html/vendor/cakephp/cakephp/src/Http/BaseApplication.php',
		'line' => (int) 235,
		'function' => 'dispatch',
		'class' => 'Cake\Http\ActionDispatcher',
		'object' => object(Cake\Http\ActionDispatcher) {},
		'type' => '->',
		'args' => [
			(int) 0 => object(Cake\Http\ServerRequest) {},
			(int) 1 => object(Cake\Http\Response) {}
		]
	],
	(int) 6 => [
		'file' => '/home/brlfuser/public_html/vendor/cakephp/cakephp/src/Http/Runner.php',
		'line' => (int) 65,
		'function' => '__invoke',
		'class' => 'Cake\Http\BaseApplication',
		'object' => object(App\Application) {},
		'type' => '->',
		'args' => [
			(int) 0 => object(Cake\Http\ServerRequest) {},
			(int) 1 => object(Cake\Http\Response) {},
			(int) 2 => object(Cake\Http\Runner) {}
		]
	],
	(int) 7 => [
		'file' => '/home/brlfuser/public_html/vendor/cakephp/cakephp/src/Routing/Middleware/RoutingMiddleware.php',
		'line' => (int) 162,
		'function' => '__invoke',
		'class' => 'Cake\Http\Runner',
		'object' => object(Cake\Http\Runner) {},
		'type' => '->',
		'args' => [
			(int) 0 => object(Cake\Http\ServerRequest) {},
			(int) 1 => object(Cake\Http\Response) {}
		]
	],
	(int) 8 => [
		'file' => '/home/brlfuser/public_html/vendor/cakephp/cakephp/src/Http/Runner.php',
		'line' => (int) 65,
		'function' => '__invoke',
		'class' => 'Cake\Routing\Middleware\RoutingMiddleware',
		'object' => object(Cake\Routing\Middleware\RoutingMiddleware) {},
		'type' => '->',
		'args' => [
			(int) 0 => object(Cake\Http\ServerRequest) {},
			(int) 1 => object(Cake\Http\Response) {},
			(int) 2 => object(Cake\Http\Runner) {}
		]
	],
	(int) 9 => [
		'file' => '/home/brlfuser/public_html/vendor/cakephp/cakephp/src/Routing/Middleware/AssetMiddleware.php',
		'line' => (int) 97,
		'function' => '__invoke',
		'class' => 'Cake\Http\Runner',
		'object' => object(Cake\Http\Runner) {},
		'type' => '->',
		'args' => [
			(int) 0 => object(Cake\Http\ServerRequest) {},
			(int) 1 => object(Cake\Http\Response) {}
		]
	],
	(int) 10 => [
		'file' => '/home/brlfuser/public_html/vendor/cakephp/cakephp/src/Http/Runner.php',
		'line' => (int) 65,
		'function' => '__invoke',
		'class' => 'Cake\Routing\Middleware\AssetMiddleware',
		'object' => object(Cake\Routing\Middleware\AssetMiddleware) {},
		'type' => '->',
		'args' => [
			(int) 0 => object(Cake\Http\ServerRequest) {},
			(int) 1 => object(Cake\Http\Response) {},
			(int) 2 => object(Cake\Http\Runner) {}
		]
	],
	(int) 11 => [
		'file' => '/home/brlfuser/public_html/vendor/cakephp/cakephp/src/Error/Middleware/ErrorHandlerMiddleware.php',
		'line' => (int) 96,
		'function' => '__invoke',
		'class' => 'Cake\Http\Runner',
		'object' => object(Cake\Http\Runner) {},
		'type' => '->',
		'args' => [
			(int) 0 => object(Cake\Http\ServerRequest) {},
			(int) 1 => object(Cake\Http\Response) {}
		]
	],
	(int) 12 => [
		'file' => '/home/brlfuser/public_html/vendor/cakephp/cakephp/src/Http/Runner.php',
		'line' => (int) 65,
		'function' => '__invoke',
		'class' => 'Cake\Error\Middleware\ErrorHandlerMiddleware',
		'object' => object(Cake\Error\Middleware\ErrorHandlerMiddleware) {},
		'type' => '->',
		'args' => [
			(int) 0 => object(Cake\Http\ServerRequest) {},
			(int) 1 => object(Cake\Http\Response) {},
			(int) 2 => object(Cake\Http\Runner) {}
		]
	],
	(int) 13 => [
		'file' => '/home/brlfuser/public_html/vendor/cakephp/cakephp/src/Http/Runner.php',
		'line' => (int) 51,
		'function' => '__invoke',
		'class' => 'Cake\Http\Runner',
		'object' => object(Cake\Http\Runner) {},
		'type' => '->',
		'args' => [
			(int) 0 => object(Cake\Http\ServerRequest) {},
			(int) 1 => object(Cake\Http\Response) {}
		]
	],
	(int) 14 => [
		'file' => '/home/brlfuser/public_html/vendor/cakephp/cakephp/src/Http/Server.php',
		'line' => (int) 98,
		'function' => 'run',
		'class' => 'Cake\Http\Runner',
		'object' => object(Cake\Http\Runner) {},
		'type' => '->',
		'args' => [
			(int) 0 => object(Cake\Http\MiddlewareQueue) {},
			(int) 1 => object(Cake\Http\ServerRequest) {},
			(int) 2 => object(Cake\Http\Response) {}
		]
	],
	(int) 15 => [
		'file' => '/home/brlfuser/public_html/webroot/index.php',
		'line' => (int) 39,
		'function' => 'run',
		'class' => 'Cake\Http\Server',
		'object' => object(Cake\Http\Server) {},
		'type' => '->',
		'args' => []
	]
]
$frame = [
	'file' => '/home/brlfuser/public_html/src/Controller/ArtileDetailController.php',
	'line' => (int) 151,
	'function' => 'offsetGet',
	'class' => 'Cake\Http\ServerRequest',
	'object' => object(Cake\Http\ServerRequest) {
		trustProxy => false
		[protected] params => [
			[maximum depth reached]
		]
		[protected] data => [[maximum depth reached]]
		[protected] query => [[maximum depth reached]]
		[protected] cookies => [[maximum depth reached]]
		[protected] _environment => [
			[maximum depth reached]
		]
		[protected] url => 'technology/how-whatsapp-messages-from-bhutan-are-saving-lives-in-assam-shailendra-yashwant-4687529.html'
		[protected] base => ''
		[protected] webroot => '/'
		[protected] here => '/technology/how-whatsapp-messages-from-bhutan-are-saving-lives-in-assam-shailendra-yashwant-4687529.html'
		[protected] trustedProxies => [[maximum depth reached]]
		[protected] _input => null
		[protected] _detectors => [
			[maximum depth reached]
		]
		[protected] _detectorCache => [
			[maximum depth reached]
		]
		[protected] stream => object(Zend\Diactoros\PhpInputStream) {}
		[protected] uri => object(Zend\Diactoros\Uri) {}
		[protected] session => object(Cake\Http\Session) {}
		[protected] attributes => [[maximum depth reached]]
		[protected] emulatedAttributes => [
			[maximum depth reached]
		]
		[protected] uploadedFiles => [[maximum depth reached]]
		[protected] protocol => null
		[protected] requestTarget => null
		[private] deprecatedProperties => [
			[maximum depth reached]
		]
	},
	'type' => '->',
	'args' => [
		(int) 0 => 'artileslug'
	]
]
deprecationWarning - CORE/src/Core/functions.php, line 311
Cake\Http\ServerRequest::offsetGet() - CORE/src/Http/ServerRequest.php, line 2421
App\Controller\ArtileDetailController::index() - APP/Controller/ArtileDetailController.php, line 151
Cake\Controller\Controller::invokeAction() - CORE/src/Controller/Controller.php, line 610
Cake\Http\ActionDispatcher::_invoke() - CORE/src/Http/ActionDispatcher.php, line 120
Cake\Http\ActionDispatcher::dispatch() - CORE/src/Http/ActionDispatcher.php, line 94
Cake\Http\BaseApplication::__invoke() - CORE/src/Http/BaseApplication.php, line 235
Cake\Http\Runner::__invoke() - CORE/src/Http/Runner.php, line 65
Cake\Routing\Middleware\RoutingMiddleware::__invoke() - CORE/src/Routing/Middleware/RoutingMiddleware.php, line 162
Cake\Http\Runner::__invoke() - CORE/src/Http/Runner.php, line 65
Cake\Routing\Middleware\AssetMiddleware::__invoke() - CORE/src/Routing/Middleware/AssetMiddleware.php, line 97
Cake\Http\Runner::__invoke() - CORE/src/Http/Runner.php, line 65
Cake\Error\Middleware\ErrorHandlerMiddleware::__invoke() - CORE/src/Error/Middleware/ErrorHandlerMiddleware.php, line 96
Cake\Http\Runner::__invoke() - CORE/src/Http/Runner.php, line 65
Cake\Http\Runner::run() - CORE/src/Http/Runner.php, line 51
Cake\Http\Server::run() - CORE/src/Http/Server.php, line 98

Warning (512): Unable to emit headers. Headers sent in file=/home/brlfuser/public_html/vendor/cakephp/cakephp/src/Error/Debugger.php line=853 [CORE/src/Http/ResponseEmitter.php, line 48]
Code Context
            if (Configure::read('debug')) {

                trigger_error($message, E_USER_WARNING);

            } else {
$response = object(Cake\Http\Response) {

	'status' => (int) 200,
	'contentType' => 'text/html',
	'headers' => [
		'Content-Type' => [
			[maximum depth reached]
		]
	],
	'file' => null,
	'fileRange' => [],
	'cookies' => object(Cake\Http\Cookie\CookieCollection) {},
	'cacheDirectives' => [],
	'body' => '<!DOCTYPE html>
<!--[if lt IE 7 ]>
<html class="ie ie6" lang='en'> <![endif]-->
<!--[if IE 7 ]>
<html class="ie ie7" lang='en'> <![endif]-->
<!--[if IE 8 ]>
<html class="ie ie8" lang='en'> <![endif]-->
<!--[if (gte IE 9)|!(IE)]><!-->
<html lang='en'>
<!--<![endif]-->
<head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8">
    
    <title>
        Technology | How WhatsApp messages from Bhutan are saving lives in Assam -Shailendra Yashwant    </title>
    <meta name="description" content="
-Scroll.in/ The Third Pole

Flash-flood warnings routed through NGOs are giving border villages precious lead-time to escape the wrath of suddenly rising rivers.

In the last few weeks of June, a series of WhatsApp messages were sent from Bhutan to India to..."/>
    <meta name="keywords" content="flash floods,WhatsApp,Early Warnings,Flooding,Community Social Media Networks"/>
    <meta name="news_keywords" content="flash floods,WhatsApp,Early Warnings,Flooding,Community Social Media Networks">
   
    <link rel="alternate" type="application/rss+xml" title="ROR" href="/ror.xml"/>
    <link rel="alternate" type="application/rss+xml" title="RSS 2.0" href="/feeds/"/>
    <link rel="stylesheet" href="/css/bootstrap.min.css?1697864993"/>    <link rel="stylesheet" href="/css/style.css?v=1.1.2"/>    <link rel="stylesheet" href="/css/style-inner.css?1577045210"/>    <link rel="stylesheet" id="Oswald-css"
          href="https://fonts.googleapis.com/css?family=Oswald%3Aregular%2C700&amp;ver=3.8.1" type="text/css"
          media="all">
    <link rel="stylesheet" href="/css/jquery.modal.min.css?1578285302"/>    <script src="/js/jquery-1.10.2.js?1575549704"></script>    <script src="/js/jquery-migrate.min.js?1575549704"></script>    <link rel="shortcut icon" href="/favicon.ico" title="Favicon">
    <link rel="stylesheet" href="/css/jquery-ui.css?1580720609"/>    <script src="/js/jquery-ui.js?1575549704"></script>    <link rel="preload" as="style" href="https://www.im4change.org/css/custom.css" onload="this.rel='stylesheet'" media="all" crossorigin="anonymous">
<link rel="preload" as="style" href="https://www.im4change.org/css/jquery.modal.min.css" onload="this.rel='stylesheet'" media="all" crossorigin="anonymous">
<link rel="preload" as="style" href="https://www.im4change.org/css/jquery-ui.css" onload="this.rel='stylesheet'" media="all" crossorigin="anonymous">
<link rel="preload" as="style" href="https://www.im4change.org/css/li-scroller.css" onload="this.rel='stylesheet'" media="all" crossorigin="anonymous">
<!-- <link rel="preload" as="style" href="https://www.im4change.org/css/style.css" onload="this.rel='stylesheet'" media="all" crossorigin="anonymous"> -->
<link rel="preload" as="style" href="https://www.im4change.org/css/style-inner.css" onload="this.rel='stylesheet'" media="all" crossorigin="anonymous">

<link rel='dns-prefetch' href="//im4change.org/css/custom.css" crossorigin >

<link rel="preload" as="script" href="https://www.im4change.org/js/bootstrap.js">
<link rel="preload" as="script" href="https://www.im4change.org/js/jquery.li-scroller.1.0.js">
<link rel="preload" as="script" href="https://www.im4change.org/js/jquery.modal.min.js">
<link rel="preload" as="script" href="https://www.im4change.org/js/jquery.ui.totop.js">
<link rel="preload" as="script" href="https://www.im4change.org/js/jquery-1.10.2.js">
<link rel="preload" as="script" href="https://www.im4change.org/js/jquery-migrate.min.js">
<link rel="preload" as="script" href="https://www.im4change.org/js/jquery-ui.js">
<link rel="preload" as="script" href="https://www.im4change.org/js/setting.js">
<link rel="preload" as="script" href="https://www.im4change.org/js/tie-scripts.js">
    <!--[if IE]>
    <script type="text/javascript">jQuery(document).ready(function () {
        jQuery(".menu-item").has("ul").children("a").attr("aria-haspopup", "true");
    });</script>
    <![endif]-->
    <!--[if lt IE 9]>
    <script src="/js/html5.js"></script>
    <script src="/js/selectivizr-min.js"></script>
    <![endif]-->
    <!--[if IE 8]>
    <link rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" media="all" href="/css/ie8.css"/>
    <![endif]-->
    <meta property="og:title" content="Technology | How WhatsApp messages from Bhutan are saving lives in Assam -Shailendra Yashwant" />
     <meta property="og:url" content="https://im4change.in/technology/how-whatsapp-messages-from-bhutan-are-saving-lives-in-assam-shailendra-yashwant-4687529.html" />
     <meta property="og:type" content="article" />
     <meta property="og:description" content="
-Scroll.in/ The Third Pole

Flash-flood warnings routed through NGOs are giving border villages precious lead-time to escape the wrath of suddenly rising rivers.

In the last few weeks of June, a series of WhatsApp messages were sent from Bhutan to India to..." />
     <meta property="og:image" content="" />
      <meta property="fb:app_id" content="0" />
    <meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1, maximum-scale=1, user-scalable=no">

       <link rel="apple-touch-icon-precomposed" sizes="144x144" href="https://im4change.in/images/apple1.png">
    <link rel="apple-touch-icon-precomposed" sizes="120x120" href="https://im4change.in/images/apple2.png">
    <link rel="apple-touch-icon-precomposed" sizes="72x72" href="https://im4change.in/images/apple3.png">
    <link rel="apple-touch-icon-precomposed" href="https://im4change.in/images/apple4.png">

    <style>
    .gsc-results-wrapper-overlay{
        top: 38% !important;
        height: 50% !important;
    }
    .gsc-search-button-v2{
        border-color: #035588 !important;
        background-color: #035588 !important;
    }

   .gsib_a{
        height: 30px !important;
          padding: 2px 8px 1px 6px !important;
    }

   
    .gsc-search-button-v2{
        height: 41px !important;
    }
    input.gsc-input{
        background: none !important;
    }
    @media only screen and (max-width: 600px) {
        .gsc-results-wrapper-overlay{
            top: 11% !important;
            width: 87% !important;
            left: 9% !important;
            height: 43% !important;
        }

        .gsc-search-button-v2{
            padding: 10px 10px !important;
        
        }
        .gsc-input-box{
            height: 28px !important;
        }
       /* .gsib_a {
            padding: 0px 9px 4px 9px !important;
        }*/
    }
    @media only screen and (min-width: 1200px) and (max-width: 1920px) {
        table.gsc-search-box{
            width: 15% !important;
            float: right !important;
            margin-top: -118px !important;
        }

        .gsc-search-button-v2 {
            
            padding: 6px !important;
           
        }
    }


</style>

    <script>
        $(function () {
            $("#accordion").accordion({
                event: "click hoverintent"
            });
        });

        /*
         * hoverIntent | Copyright 2011 Brian Cherne
         * http://cherne.net/brian/resources/jquery.hoverIntent.html
         * modified by the jQuery UI team
         */
        $.event.special.hoverintent = {
            setup: function () {
                $(this).bind("mouseover", jQuery.event.special.hoverintent.handler);
            },
            teardown: function () {
                $(this).unbind("mouseover", jQuery.event.special.hoverintent.handler);
            },
            handler: function (event) {
                var currentX, currentY, timeout,
                    args = arguments,
                    target = $(event.target),
                    previousX = event.pageX,
                    previousY = event.pageY;

                function track(event) {
                    currentX = event.pageX;
                    currentY = event.pageY;
                }
                ;

                function clear() {
                    target
                        .unbind("mousemove", track)
                        .unbind("mouseout", clear);
                    clearTimeout(timeout);
                }

                function handler() {
                    var prop,
                        orig = event;
                    if ((Math.abs(previousX - currentX) +
                        Math.abs(previousY - currentY)) < 7) {
                        clear();
                        event = $.Event("hoverintent");
                        for (prop in orig) {
                            if (!(prop in event)) {
                                event[prop] = orig[prop];
                            }
                        }
                        // Prevent accessing the original event since the new event
                        // is fired asynchronously and the old event is no longer
                        // usable (#6028)
                        delete event.originalEvent;
                        target.trigger(event);
                    } else {
                        previousX = currentX;
                        previousY = currentY;
                        timeout = setTimeout(handler, 100);
                    }
                }

                timeout = setTimeout(handler, 100);
                target.bind({
                    mousemove: track,
                    mouseout: clear
                });
            }
        };
    </script>
    <script type="text/javascript">
        var _gaq = _gaq || [];
        _gaq.push(['_setAccount', 'UA-472075-3']);
        _gaq.push(['_trackPageview']);

        (function () {
            var ga = document.createElement('script');
            ga.type = 'text/javascript';
            ga.async = true;
            ga.src = ('https:' == document.location.protocol ? 'https://ssl' : 'http://www') + '.google-analytics.com/ga.js';
            var s = document.getElementsByTagName('script')[0];
            s.parentNode.insertBefore(ga, s);
        })();
    </script>
    <link rel="stylesheet" href="/css/custom.css?v=1.16"/>    <script src="/js/jquery.ui.totop.js?1575549704"></script>    <script src="/js/setting.js?1575549704"></script>    <link rel="manifest" href="/manifest.json">
    <meta name="theme-color" content="#616163" />
    <meta name="apple-mobile-web-app-capable" content="yes">
    <meta name="apple-mobile-web-app-status-bar-style" content="black">
    <meta name="apple-mobile-web-app-title" content="im4change">
    <link rel="apple-touch-icon" href="/icons/logo-192x192.png">
</head>
<body id="top" class="home inner blog">
<div class="background-cover"></div>
<div class="wrapper animated">
    <header id="theme-header" class="header_inner" style="position: relative;">
        <div class="logo inner_logo" style="left:20px !important">
                <a title="Home" href="https://im4change.in/">
                    <img src="https://im4change.in/images/logo2.jpg?1582080632" class="logo_image" alt="im4change"/>                </a>
        </div>
        <div class="langhindi" style="color: #000;display:none;"
             href="https://im4change.in/">
            <a class="more-link" href="https://im4change.in/">Home</a>
                        <a href="https://im4change.in/hindi/" class="langbutton ">हिन्दी</a>
                    </div>
        <nav class="fade-in animated2" id="main-nav">
            <div class="container">
                <div class="main-menu">
    <ul class="menu" id="menu-main">
        <li class="menu-item  menu-item-type-custom  menu-item-object-custom  menu-item-has-children"
            style="left: -40px;"><a
                 target="_blank" href="https://im4change.in/">Home</a>
        </li>
        <li class="menu-item mega-menu menu-item-type-taxonomy mega-menu menu-item-object-category mega-menu menu-item-has-children parent-list"
            style=" margin-left: -40px;"><a href="#">KNOWLEDGE GATEWAY <span class="sub-indicator"></span>
            </a>
            <div class="mega-menu-block background_menu" style="padding-top:25px;">
                <div class="container">
                    <div class="mega-menu-content">
                                                                   <div class="mega-menu-item">
                                                 <h3><b>Farm Crisis</b></h3>
                                                                                                    <p style="padding-left:5px;">
                                                    <a  target="_blank" href="https://im4change.in/farm-crisis/farmers039-suicides-14.html"
                                                       class="left postionrel">Farm Suicides                                                       </a>
                                                </p>
                                                                                                        <p style="padding-left:5px;">
                                                    <a  target="_blank" href="https://im4change.in/farm-crisis/unemployment-30.html"
                                                       class="left postionrel">Unemployment                                                       </a>
                                                </p>
                                                                                                        <p style="padding-left:5px;">
                                                    <a  target="_blank" href="https://im4change.in/farm-crisis/rural-distress-70.html"
                                                       class="left postionrel">Rural distress                                                       </a>
                                                </p>
                                                                                                        <p style="padding-left:5px;">
                                                    <a  target="_blank" href="https://im4change.in/farm-crisis/migration-34.html"
                                                       class="left postionrel">Migration                                                       </a>
                                                </p>
                                                                                                        <p style="padding-left:5px;">
                                                    <a  target="_blank" href="https://im4change.in/farm-crisis/key-facts-72.html"
                                                       class="left postionrel">Key Facts                                                       </a>
                                                </p>
                                                                                                        <p style="padding-left:5px;">
                                                    <a  target="_blank" href="https://im4change.in/farm-crisis/debt-trap-15.html"
                                                       class="left postionrel">Debt Trap                                                       </a>
                                                </p>
                                                                                                
                                              </div> 
                                            
                                                                                        <div class="mega-menu-item">
                                                 <h3><b>Empowerment</b></h3>
                                                                                                    <p style="padding-left:5px;">
                                                    <a  target="_blank" href="https://im4change.in/empowerment/union-budget-73.html"
                                                       class="left postionrel">Union Budget And Other Economic Policies                                                       </a>
                                                </p>
                                                                                                        <p style="padding-left:5px;">
                                                    <a  target="_blank" href="https://im4change.in/empowerment/forest-and-tribal-rights-61.html"
                                                       class="left postionrel">Forest and Tribal Rights                                                       </a>
                                                </p>
                                                                                                        <p style="padding-left:5px;">
                                                    <a  target="_blank" href="https://im4change.in/empowerment/right-to-education-60.html"
                                                       class="left postionrel">Right to Education                                                       </a>
                                                </p>
                                                                                                        <p style="padding-left:5px;">
                                                    <a  target="_blank" href="https://im4change.in/empowerment/right-to-food-59.html"
                                                       class="left postionrel">Right to Food                                                       </a>
                                                </p>
                                                                                                        <p style="padding-left:5px;">
                                                    <a  target="_blank" href="https://im4change.in/empowerment/displacement-3279.html"
                                                       class="left postionrel">Displacement                                                       </a>
                                                </p>
                                                                                                        <p style="padding-left:5px;">
                                                    <a  target="_blank" href="https://im4change.in/empowerment/right-to-work-mg-nrega-39.html"
                                                       class="left postionrel">Right to Work (MG-NREGA)                                                       </a>
                                                </p>
                                                                                                        <p style="padding-left:5px;">
                                                    <a  target="_blank" href="https://im4change.in/empowerment/gender-3280.html"
                                                       class="left postionrel">GENDER                                                       </a>
                                                </p>
                                                                                                        <p style="padding-left:5px;">
                                                    <a  target="_blank" href="https://im4change.in/empowerment/right-to-information-58.html"
                                                       class="left postionrel">Right to Information                                                       </a>
                                                </p>
                                                                                                        <p style="padding-left:5px;">
                                                    <a  target="_blank" href="https://im4change.in/empowerment/social-audit-48.html"
                                                       class="left postionrel">Social Audit                                                       </a>
                                                </p>
                                                                                                
                                              </div> 
                                            
                                                                                        <div class="mega-menu-item">
                                                 <h3><b>Hunger / HDI</b></h3>
                                                                                                    <p style="padding-left:5px;">
                                                    <a  target="_blank" href="https://im4change.in/hunger-hdi/poverty-and-inequality-20499.html"
                                                       class="left postionrel">Poverty and inequality                                                       </a>
                                                </p>
                                                                                                        <p style="padding-left:5px;">
                                                    <a  target="_blank" href="https://im4change.in/hunger-hdi/malnutrition-41.html"
                                                       class="left postionrel">Malnutrition                                                       </a>
                                                </p>
                                                                                                        <p style="padding-left:5px;">
                                                    <a  target="_blank" href="https://im4change.in/hunger-hdi/public-health-51.html"
                                                       class="left postionrel">Public Health                                                       </a>
                                                </p>
                                                                                                        <p style="padding-left:5px;">
                                                    <a  target="_blank" href="https://im4change.in/hunger-hdi/education-50.html"
                                                       class="left postionrel">Education                                                       </a>
                                                </p>
                                                                                                        <p style="padding-left:5px;">
                                                    <a  target="_blank" href="https://im4change.in/hunger-hdi/hunger-overview-40.html"
                                                       class="left postionrel">Hunger Overview                                                       </a>
                                                </p>
                                                                                                        <p style="padding-left:5px;">
                                                    <a  target="_blank" href="https://im4change.in/hunger-hdi/hdi-overview-45.html"
                                                       class="left postionrel">HDI Overview                                                       </a>
                                                </p>
                                                                                                        <p style="padding-left:5px;">
                                                    <a  target="_blank" href="https://im4change.in/hunger-hdi/pds-ration-food-security-42.html"
                                                       class="left postionrel">PDS/ Ration/ Food Security                                                       </a>
                                                </p>
                                                                                                        <p style="padding-left:5px;">
                                                    <a  target="_blank" href="https://im4change.in/hunger-hdi/sdgs-113.html"
                                                       class="left postionrel">SDGs                                                       </a>
                                                </p>
                                                                                                        <p style="padding-left:5px;">
                                                    <a  target="_blank" href="https://im4change.in/hunger-hdi/mid-day-meal-scheme-mdms-53.html"
                                                       class="left postionrel">Mid Day Meal Scheme (MDMS)                                                       </a>
                                                </p>
                                                                                                
                                              </div> 
                                            
                                                                                        <div class="mega-menu-item">
                                                 <h3><b>Environment</b></h3>
                                                                                                    <p style="padding-left:5px;">
                                                    <a  target="_blank" href="https://im4change.in/environment/time-bomb-ticking-52.html"
                                                       class="left postionrel">Time Bomb Ticking                                                       </a>
                                                </p>
                                                                                                        <p style="padding-left:5px;">
                                                    <a  target="_blank" href="https://im4change.in/environment/water-and-sanitation-55.html"
                                                       class="left postionrel">Water and Sanitation                                                       </a>
                                                </p>
                                                                                                        <p style="padding-left:5px;">
                                                    <a  target="_blank" href="https://im4change.in/environment/impact-on-agriculture-54.html"
                                                       class="left postionrel">Impact on Agriculture                                                       </a>
                                                </p>
                                                                                                
                                              </div> 
                                            
                                                                                        <div class="mega-menu-item">
                                                 <h3><b>Law & Justice</b></h3>
                                                                                                    <p style="padding-left:5px;">
                                                    <a  target="_blank" href="https://im4change.in/law-justice/social-justice-20500.html"
                                                       class="left postionrel">Social Justice                                                       </a>
                                                </p>
                                                                                                        <p style="padding-left:5px;">
                                                    <a  target="_blank" href="https://im4change.in/law-justice/access-to-justice-47.html"
                                                       class="left postionrel">Access to Justice                                                       </a>
                                                </p>
                                                                                                        <p style="padding-left:5px;">
                                                    <a  target="_blank" href="https://im4change.in/law-justice/human-rights-56.html"
                                                       class="left postionrel">Human Rights                                                       </a>
                                                </p>
                                                                                                        <p style="padding-left:5px;">
                                                    <a  target="_blank" href="https://im4change.in/law-justice/corruption-35.html"
                                                       class="left postionrel">Corruption                                                       </a>
                                                </p>
                                                                                                        <p style="padding-left:5px;">
                                                    <a  target="_blank" href="https://im4change.in/law-justice/general-insecurity-46.html"
                                                       class="left postionrel">General Insecurity                                                       </a>
                                                </p>
                                                                                                        <p style="padding-left:5px;">
                                                    <a  target="_blank" href="https://im4change.in/law-justice/disaster-relief-49.html"
                                                       class="left postionrel">Disaster &amp; Relief                                                       </a>
                                                </p>
                                                                                                
                                              </div> 
                                            
                                                                                        
                    </div>
                </div>
            </div>
        </li>
        <li class="menu-item  menu-item-type-post_type  menu-item-object-page "><a  target="_blank" href="https://im4change.in/nceus_reports.php">NCEUS reports</a>
            
        </li>
        <li class="menu-item  menu-item-type-custom  menu-item-object-custom  menu-item-has-children parent-list ">
            <a  target="_blank" href="https://im4change.in/about-us-9.html">About Us <span
                    class="sub-indicator"></span></a>
            <ul class="sub-menu aboutmenu">
                <li class="menu-item  menu-item-type-post_type  menu-item-object-page"><a
                        target="_blank" href="https://im4change.in/objectives-8.html">Objectives</a>
                </li>
                <li class="menu-item  menu-item-type-post_type  menu-item-object-page"><a
                         target="_blank" href="https://im4change.in/contactus.php">Contact
                        Us</a></li>
                <li class="menu-item  menu-item-type-post_type  menu-item-object-page"><a
                         target="_blank" href="https://im4change.in/about-us-9.html">About
                        Us</a></li>
            </ul>
        </li>
        <li class="menu-item  menu-item-type-custom  menu-item-object-custom  menu-item-has-children ">
            <a  target="_blank" href="https://im4change.in/fellowships.php" title="Fellowships">Fellowships</a>
        </li>
        <li class="menu-item  menu-item-type-custom  menu-item-object-custom  menu-item-has-children  "><a
                 target="_blank" href="https://im4change.in/media-workshops.php">Workshops</a>
        </li>
        <li class="menu-item  menu-item-type-custom  menu-item-object-custom  menu-item-has-children  "><a
                 target="_blank" href="https://im4change.in/research.php">Research</a></li>
        <li class="menu-item  menu-item-type-custom  menu-item-object-custom  menu-item-has-children   "><a
                 target="_blank" href="https://im4change.in/links-64">Partners</a></li>
        <li class="menu-item  menu-item-type-custom  menu-item-object-custom  menu-item-has-children"
            id="menu-item-539"><a  target="_blank" href="https://im4change.in/hindi/"
                                  class="langbutton langlinkfont17">हिन्दी</a></li>
    </ul>
</div>            </div>


                        <!--  <div style="float: right;">
                            <script async src="https://cse.google.com/cse.js?cx=18b4f2e0f11bed3dd"></script>
                            <div class="gcse-search"></div>
                        </div> -->
                       
            <div class="search-block" style=" margin-left: 8px; margin-right: 7px;">
                <form method="get" id="searchform" name="searchform"
                      action="https://im4change.in/search"
                      onsubmit="return searchvalidate();">
                    <button class="search-button" type="submit" value="Search"></button>
                    <input type="text" id="s" name="qryStr" value=""
                           onfocus="if (this.value == 'Search...') {this.value = '';}"
                           onblur="if (this.value == '') {this.value = 'Search...';}">
                </form>
            </div>
        </nav>
    </header>
    <div class="container">
        <div id="main-content" class=" main1 container fade-in animated3 sidebar-narrow-left">
            <div class="content-wrap">
                <div class="content" style="width: 900px;min-height: 500px;">
                    <section class="cat-box recent-box innerCatRecent">
    <h1 class="cat-box-title">How WhatsApp messages from Bhutan are saving lives in Assam -Shailendra Yashwant</h1>
    <a href="JavaScript:void(0);" onclick="return shareArticle(39397);">
        <img src="https://im4change.in/images/email.png?1582080630" border="0" width="24" align="right" alt="Share this article"/>    </a>

    <a href="https://im4change.in/technology/how-whatsapp-messages-from-bhutan-are-saving-lives-in-assam-shailendra-yashwant-4687529/print"
       rel="nofollow">
        <img src="https://im4change.in/images/icon-print.png?1582080630" border="0" width="24" align="right" alt="Share this article"/>
    </a>
</section>
<section class="recent-box innerCatRecent">
    <small class="pb-1"><span class="dateIcn">
    	<img src="https://im4change.in/images/published.svg?1582080666" alt="published"/> 
		 Published on</span><span class="text-date"> Jul 8, 2019</span>
        &nbsp; <span
                class="dateIcn">
		 	<img src="https://im4change.in/images/modified.svg?1582080666" alt="modified"/>    	 Modified on </span><span class="text-date"> Jul 8, 2019</span>
    </small>
</section>
<div class="clear"></div>
<div style="padding-top: 10px;">
    <div class="innerLineHeight">
        <div class="middleContent innerInput technology">
            <table>
                <tr>
                    <td>
                                                <div>
                            <div align="justify">-Scroll.in/ The Third Pole<br /><br /><em>Flash-flood warnings routed through NGOs are giving border villages precious lead-time to escape the wrath of suddenly rising rivers.<br /></em><br />In the last few weeks of June, a series of WhatsApp messages were sent from Bhutan to India to warn cross-border friends downstream of the Aai, Saralbhanga and Manas rivers about cloud-bursts, swollen rivers and possible flash floods affecting people in the Indian state of Assam.<br /><br />Although originating from officials, these messages were not sent via official channels. That would involve the dzongdag &ndash; the administrative head of the dzonkhag, or district &ndash; in Geluphu passing information to the officials in Bhutan&rsquo;s capital Thimphu, who would then inform officials in New Delhi, the capital of India. They would, in turn, inform officials in Guwahati, the capital of the Indian state of Assam, who would pass the warnings on to Kokrajhar district headquarters. In the final stage, these messages would be relayed from there to villages along the India-Bhutan border.<br /><br />In most cases, this circuitous channel would take too long, with information either critically delayed or unclear and of little use to most river-bank communities in downstream Assam.<br /><br />Now, though, the communities are relying on these WhatsApp early warnings routed through members of the Bhutan-India Friendship Association to friends in NGOs like the North East Research and Social Work Networking , who pass the information to their network. Messages are forwarded within minutes, giving the villagers precious lead-time to prepare and escape the wrath of the suddenly rising rivers.<br /><br />&ldquo;It is difficult to predict when the flash floods will occur,&rdquo; said Kamal Kishor Hazarika, project officer at the District Disaster Management Authority in Kokrajhar. &ldquo;In case of water released from dams the Bhutanese government sends early warnings to New Delhi but even then some times, by the time we receive the information and pass it onto villages along the border it is too late. The challenge is lack of communication infrastructure in the area. There are no cell towers on the Indian side and most villagers on the border surreptitiously use Bhutanese SIM cards. Those WhatsApp messages probably save the lives of hundreds.&rdquo;<br /><br />These small rivers that start in Bhutan or Tibet flow into the transboundary Brahmaputra River in India.<br /><br />&ldquo;It&rsquo;s costly, using the internet, but for emergency, all the villagers depend on WhatsApp,&rdquo; agreed Aniram Basumatary of Saralpara village, speaking to The Third Pole. &ldquo;Communication is important, especially in the monsoon season. Anything can happen, and getting advance warning will help us to be ready. We have suffered enough because of the lack of warning.&rdquo;<br /><br />Decades of militancy in this corner of India has led to a complex situation, where communications infrastructure is seen as both a threat and an opportunity, making it a politically challenging decision to strengthen communications in the area.<br /><br /><em>The cost of no warning<br /></em><br />Banglajhora is a small village on the banks of Saralbhanga river in Kokrajhar district of Assam. The village faced three devastating floods in 2012, 2014 and then again in 2016. Since then, every monsoon the fear of floods is palpable among its residents, who belong to the Bodo indigenous community.<br /><br />Satyaraj Narzary recalled the floods of July 16, 2012. &ldquo;When I woke up in the morning, there was no water,&rdquo; said Narzary. &ldquo;Nor were there any signs of flood. But around 8 am, the water started rising and before we realised what was happening, the whole area was flooded. About 12 houses were washed away. Many families lost their cattle in the floods, their standing crop of paddy was destroyed and a considerable amount of land was lost due to erosion. We have not been able to farm on that land ever since.&rdquo; <br /><br />He said that the floods happened following heavy rains in the foothills of Bhutan when the Saralbhanga river broke a temporary embankment.<br /><br />In August 2014, Banglajhora was inundated again without warning, when the gushing waters of Saralbhanga eroded the Saralpara-Patgaon bund and several hectares of paddy and private properties in the area were destroyed. The local residents had to take shelter at a relief camp for over a week.<br /><br />The floods of 2016 were the worst. Heavy rains caused flash floods in most of the tributaries of the Brahmaputra. Nearly 1.8 million people were affected in 22 districts across Assam. Lower, Western Assam&rsquo;s Kokrajhar and Bongaigaon districts were the worst affected and the villagers of Banglajhora faced the brunt of it all.<br /><br />&ldquo;We had to run with our children and the few belongings we were able to gather,&rdquo; said Kamal Basumatari. &ldquo;One contingent of the Army rescue team was deployed to rescue us with lifeboats but the force of water was such that the first lifeboat turned turtle in the middle of the river and the villagers ended up rescuing the soldiers. After that, we made a raft with few tyre tubes and bamboo to ferry women, children and a few belongings across the river with great difficulty. I have never seen Saralbhanga so furious. The water was also very cold.&rdquo;<br /><br /><em>WhatsApp for disaster warning<br /></em><br />Neera Shreshta Pradhan of the International Centre for Integrated Mountain development told The Third Pole, &ldquo;Floods, both riverine and flash floods, are the most common hazards in the Hindu Kush Himalayas and account for 17% of people killed and 51% of the damage. Unlike riverine floods, flash floods occur rapidly with a very short lead time for warning. They can arise following intense rainfall events, or as a result of breaching of natural dams formed by landslides or from glacial lakes formed behind end moraine dams [called a glacial lake outburst flood].&rdquo;<br /><br />She added, &ldquo;In recent years, increasingly erratic and unpredictable monsoon rainfall patterns and increased climate variability have led to severe and frequent flood disasters in the region. There may be some information sharing between governments on major rivers, but tributaries are largely ignored. This is where social relations between transboundary communities are critical for any early warning systems to deliver. Clear and timely communication, proper functional network and preparedness reduces human casualties. Even a short lead time will save lives.&rdquo;<br /><br />Kripaljyoti Mazumder, state project officer at the Assam State Disaster Management Authority said, &ldquo;Bhutan is in a high rainfall zone but in the last 15 years to 20 years, there have been more and more cloudbursts, resulting in severe flash floods that destroy everything in their path with alarming regularity in Bhutan and then downriver in Assam. The floods of July 2016 in Saralbhanga river wiped out the entire Sarpang town in South Bhutan before unleashing havoc in Assam. Bhutanese experts have said that this is due to climate change and is in line with Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change reports.&rdquo;<br /><br />While the Bhutanese have responded by building mitigating structures and preparing their populations, the downstream communities along the border in India can only hope for timely information, seamless evacuation and minimum damage to their homes, cattle and crops.<br /><br />For this, the key elements of disaster risk reduction like risk knowledge, monitoring, analysis, warning generation, dissemination and communication of warning and preparedness for timely response have to work in sync.<br /><br />&ldquo;Getting timely early warning is not enough, the preparedness of the communities is important as well,&rdquo; said Raju Narzary of the North East Research &amp; Social Work Networking. &ldquo;Already the North East Research &amp; Social Work Networking has begun a hazard risk vulnerability assessment mapping of the river basin villages and identified volunteers in all villages to ensure that the early warnings from our friends in Bhutan reach the last mile families, even those who do not have access to WhatsApp or mobile phones.&rdquo;<br /><br />Aniram Basumatary, who does not own a motorcycle, but is saving up for one, said: &ldquo;Already this year, the WhatsApp warnings from Bhutan India Friendship Association to the last mile family has travelled within 10 minutes of being sent out. The delay was due to the fact that the last family ran out of phone batteries, so when we didn&rsquo;t see the ticks going blue, I borrowed a motorcycle to alert the family. Mobile phones are warning systems but you need motorcycle for sure, as there are always those without mobile phones.&rdquo;<br /><br /><em>Kokrajhar call for action<br /></em><br />Building on these relationships between the Bhutan India Friendship Association and the North East Research &amp; Social Work Networking, 14 civil society organisations from Bhutan and India, including the Bhutan Transparency Initiative and Aaranyak &ndash; a leading NGO in Assam &ndash; under the stewardship of Oxfam India&rsquo;s Transboundary Rivers of South Asia programme came together on June 20 and June 21 in Kokrajhar. These consultations were designed to strengthen people-to-people ties and help safeguard the rights of riparian communities upstream and downstream by supporting community-led cross-border ecosystem management and conservation practices.<br /><br />&ldquo;The biggest threat to peace is a lack of effective management of our water resources, especially along our borders,&rdquo; said Pankaj Anand, programme director of Oxfam India, during his inaugural address. &ldquo;Some of the poorest people live on transboundary waters of little known tributaries in remote parts of the Indo-Bhutan region, easily the most vulnerable to vagaries of climate change unfolding in these parts. Awareness, empathy, people-to-people networks supported by appropriate technologies, and timely and quality early warning information will go a long way in reducing risks to these communities.&rdquo;<br /><br />Kinzang Dorji, who served twice as Prime Minister of Bhutan, and is now the chairperson of the Bhutan Transparency Initiative said: &ldquo;Early warning is the moral responsibility of people living upstream towards people living downstream. What you are seeing in Kokrajhar district goes beyond the official friendly ties between Bhutan and India. In fact, this informal but friendly collaboration for early warning and sharing of our water resources between border communities of Bhutan and Assam is a model for peaceful relationships between countries at a time when peace around the world is threatened by the scarcity of water and climate change-induced disasters.&rdquo;<br /><br /><em>Shailendra Yashwant is a freelance journalist.</em><br /><br /><em>This report first appeared on <a href="https://www.thethirdpole.net/en/2019/07/04/community-communications-save-lives-in-assam/" title="https://www.thethirdpole.net/en/2019/07/04/community-communications-save-lives-in-assam/">The Third Pole</a>.</em><br /></div><div align="justify">&nbsp;</div><div align="justify">Scroll.in, 6 July, 2019, please <a href="https://scroll.in/article/929569/how-whatsapp-messages-from-bhutan-are-saving-lives-in-assam?fbclid=IwAR3GCreFt8xIvX-U0ZGGv6molGKuOXGa39vyKz1aNjd3mw0AQDJ2dxhABBo" title="https://scroll.in/article/929569/how-whatsapp-messages-from-bhutan-are-saving-lives-in-assam?fbclid=IwAR3GCreFt8xIvX-U0ZGGv6molGKuOXGa39vyKz1aNjd3mw0AQDJ2dxhABBo">click here</a> to access <br /></div>                                                           
                        </div>
                    </td>
                </tr>
            </table>
        </div>
    </div>
</div>
<div class="clear"></div>
    <br><a href="https://scroll.in/article/929569/how-whatsapp-messages-from-bhutan-are-saving-lives-in-assam?fbclid=IwAR3GCreFt8xIvX-U0ZGGv6molGKuOXGa39vyKz1aNjd3mw0AQDJ2dxhABBo" class="re" target="_blank">Scroll.in, 6 July, 2019, https://scroll.in/article/929569/how-whatsapp-messages-from-bhutan-are-saving-lives-in-assam?fbclid=IwAR3GCreFt8xIvX-U0ZGGv6molGKuOXGa39vyKz1aNjd3mw0AQDJ2dxhABBo</a><div class="clear"></div>
    <div style="padding-top: 18px;">
        <p class="post-tag">Tagged with:
                            <a class="tagcloud5"
                   href="https://im4change.in/search?qryStr=flash floods"
                   title="flash floods">
                    flash floods                </a>
                                <a class="tagcloud5"
                   href="https://im4change.in/search?qryStr=WhatsApp"
                   title="WhatsApp">
                    WhatsApp                </a>
                                <a class="tagcloud5"
                   href="https://im4change.in/search?qryStr=Early Warnings"
                   title="Early Warnings">
                    Early Warnings                </a>
                                <a class="tagcloud5"
                   href="https://im4change.in/search?qryStr=Flooding"
                   title="Flooding">
                    Flooding                </a>
                                <a class="tagcloud5"
                   href="https://im4change.in/search?qryStr=Community Social Media Networks"
                   title="Community Social Media Networks">
                    Community Social Media Networks                </a>
                        </p>
    </div>
<div class="clear"></div>
    <br><br>
    <div class="widget-top">
        <h4>Related Articles</h4>
        <div class="stripe-line"></div>
    </div>
    <div class="widget-container">
        <ul id="recentcomments">
                            <li class="recentcomments">
                    <a href="https://im4change.in/latest-news-updates/monsoon-takes-pause-in-august-after-july-deluge-el-nino-may-further-weaken-rains-rural-voice.html"
                       title="Monsoon takes pause in August after July deluge, El Nino may further weaken rains - Rural Voice">
                        Monsoon takes pause in August after July deluge, El Nino may further weaken rains - Rural Voice                    </a>
                </li>
                                <li class="recentcomments">
                    <a href="https://im4change.in/latest-news-updates/latest-christian-aid-report-identifies-top-10-climate-disasters-of-2022.html"
                       title="Latest Christian Aid report identifies top 10 climate disasters of 2022">
                        Latest Christian Aid report identifies top 10 climate disasters of 2022                    </a>
                </li>
                                <li class="recentcomments">
                    <a href="https://im4change.in/news-alerts-57/climate-induced-extreme-events-playing-havoc-with-the-economy-shows-latest-available-data.html"
                       title="Climate change induced extreme events are playing havoc with human lives & livelihoods, show latest available data">
                        Climate change induced extreme events are playing havoc with human lives & livelihoods, show latest available data                    </a>
                </li>
                                <li class="recentcomments">
                    <a href="https://im4change.in/latest-news-updates/extreme-weather-events-to-rise-manifold-in-india-due-to-climate-change-iit-gandhinagar-study.html"
                       title="Extreme Weather Events To Rise Manifold In India Due To Climate Change: IIT Gandhinagar Study">
                        Extreme Weather Events To Rise Manifold In India Due To Climate Change: IIT Gandhinagar Study                    </a>
                </li>
                                <li class="recentcomments">
                    <a href="https://im4change.in/latest-news-updates/assam-s-soil-erosion-worsening-with-climate-change-and-floods-gurvinder-singh.html"
                       title="Assam’s soil erosion worsening with climate change and floods -Gurvinder Singh">
                        Assam’s soil erosion worsening with climate change and floods -Gurvinder Singh                    </a>
                </li>
                
        </ul>
    </div>
    <div class="comment-respond" id="respond">
    <a name="commentbox">&nbsp;</a>
    <h3 class="comment-reply-title" id="reply-title">Write Comments</h3>
    <form method="post" accept-charset="utf-8" role="form" action="/technology/how-whatsapp-messages-from-bhutan-are-saving-lives-in-assam-shailendra-yashwant-4687529.html"><div style="display:none;"><input type="hidden" name="_method" value="POST"/></div>    <form class="comment-form" id="commentform" method="post" action="#commentbox" onSubmit="return validate()"
          name="cmtform">
        <input type="hidden" name="cmttype" value="articlecmt"/>
        <input type="hidden" name="article_id" value="39397"/>
        <p class="comment-notes">Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked <span
                    class="required">*</span></p>
                <p class="comment-form-author">
            <label for="commenterName">Name</label>
            <span class="required">*</span>
            <input type="text" aria-required="true" size="30"
                   value=""
                   name="commenterName" id="commenterName" required="true">
        </p>
        <p class="comment-form-email">
            <label for="commenterEmail">Email</label> <span class="required">*</span>
            <input aria-required="true" size="30" name="commenterEmail" id="commenterEmail" type="email"
                   value=""
                   required="true">
        </p>
        <p class="comment-form-contact">
            <label for="commenterPh">Contact No.</label>
            <input type="text" size="30"
                   value=""
                   name="commenterPh" id="commenterPh">
        </p>
        <p class="comment-form-comment">
            <label for="comment">Comment</label>
            <textarea aria-required="true" required="true" rows="8" cols="45" name="comment"
                      id="comment"></textarea>
        </p>
        <p class="comment-form-comment">
            <label for="comment">Type the characters you see in the image below <span class="required">*</span><br><img
                        class="captchaImg"
                        src="https://im4change.in/securimage_show_art.php?tk=1557049728" alt="captcha"/>
            </label>
        </p>
        <input type="text" name="vrcode" required="true"/>

        <p class="form-submit" style="width: 200px;">
            <input type="submit" value="Post Comment" id="submit" name="submit">
        </p></form>
</div>
<style>
    .ui-widget-content {
        height: auto !important;
    }
</style>
<div id="share-modal"></div>
<style>
    .middleContent a{
        background-color: rgba(108,172,228,.2);
    }
    .middleContent a:hover{
        background-color: #418fde;
        border-color: #418fde;
        color: #000;
        }
</style>
<script>
    function shareArticle(article_id) {
        var options = {
            modal: true,
            height: 'auto',
            width: 600 + 'px'
        };
        $('#share-modal').html("");
        $('#share-modal').load('https://im4change.in/share_article?article_id=' + article_id).dialog(options).dialog('open');
    }

    function postShare() {
        var param = 'article_id=' + $("#article_id").val();
        param = param + '&y_name=' + $("#y_name").val();
        param = param + '&y_email=' + $("#y_email").val();
        param = param + '&f_name=' + $("#f_name").val();
        param = param + '&f_email=' + $("#f_email").val();
        param = param + '&y_msg=' + $("#y_msg").val();

        $.ajax({
            type: "POST",
            url: 'https://im4change.in/post_share_article',
            data: param,
            success: function (response) {
                $('#share-modal').html("Thank You, Your message posted to ");
            }
        });
        return false;
    }
</script>                </div>
            </div>
            <!-- Right Side Section Start -->
<!-- MAP Section START -->
<aside class="sidebar indexMarg">
    <div class="ad-cell">
        <a href="https://im4change.in/statemap.php" title="">
            <img src="https://im4change.in/images/map_new_version.png?1582080666" alt="India State Map" class="indiamap" width="232" height="252"/>        </a>
        <div class="rightmapbox">
            <div id="sideOne" class="docltitle"><a href="https://im4change.in/state-report/india/36" target="_blank">DOCUMENTS/
                    REPORTS</a></div>
            <div id="sideTwo" class="statetitle"><a href="https://im4change.in/states.php"target="_blank">STATE DATA/
                    HDRs.</a></div>
        </div>
        <div class="widget widgePadTop"></div>
    </div>
</aside>
<!-- MAP Section END -->
<aside class="sidebar sidePadbottom">
    <div class="rightsmlbox1" >
        <a href="https://im4change.in/knowledge_gateway" target="_blank" style="color: #035588;
    font-size: 17px;">
            KNOWLEDGE GATEWAY
        </a>
    </div>
    <div class="rightsmlbox1">

        <div>
            <p class="rightsmlbox1_title">
                <a href="https://im4change.in/newsletter" target="_blank">
                    NEWSLETTER
                </a>
            </p>
        </div>
    </div>
        <div class="rightsmlbox1" style="height: 325px;">
        <div>
            <p class="rightsmlbox1_title">
                Interview with Prof. Ravi Srivastava
            </p>
            <p class="rightsmlbox1_title">
                <a href="https://im4change.in/video/interview-with-prof-ravi-srivastava-on-current-economic-crisis">
                <img width="250" height="200" src="/images/interview_video_home.jpg" alt="Interview with Prof. Ravi Srivastava"/>
                </a>
                <!--
                <iframe width="250" height="200" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/MmaTlntk-wc" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen=""></iframe>-->
               
            </p>
            <a href="https://im4change.in/videogallery" class="more-link CatArchalAnch1" target="_blank">
                                More videos
                            </a>
        </div>
    </div>
    
        <div class="rightsmlbox1">
        <div>
            <!--div id="sstory" class="rightboxicons"></div--->
            <p class="rightsmlbox1_title"><a href="https://im4change.in/list-success-stories"  target="_blank">Success Stories</a></p>
        </div>
    </div>
    <div class="rightsmlbox1">
        <div>
            <p class="rightsmlbox1_title"><a
                        href="https://im4change.in/interviews"  target="_blank">Interviews</a>
            </p>
        </div>
    </div>

    <div class="rightsmlbox1">
        <div>
            <p class="rightsmlbox1_title"><a href="https://www.commoncause.in/page.php?id=10" >Donate</a></p>
        </div>
    </div>
    <div class="rightsmlbox1">
        <div>
            <p class="rightsmlbox1_title"><a
        href="https://im4change.in/marquee"
        class="isf_link more-link" title="India Focus?" style="border: 4px solid #fdd922;width: 90%;background-color: #fdd922;text-align: center;color: #000000;font-size:18px"  target="_blank">India Focus</a></p>        </div>
    </div>

    <div class="rightsmlbox1" style="height: 104px !important;">
        <a href="https://im4change.in/quarterly_reports.php" target="_blank">
            Quarterly Reports on Effect of Economic Slowdown on Employment in India (2008 - 2015)
        </a>
    </div>
    
<!--     <div class="rightsmlbox1">
        <a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.im4.im4change" target="_blank">
            
        </a></div> -->
    <!-- <section class="cat-box recent-box secMarg">
        <h2 class="cat-box-title">Most Visited</h2>
    </section> -->
    <!-- accordion Starts here -->
    <!-- <div id="accordion" class="accordMarg">
            </div> -->
    <!-- accordion ends here -->
    <!-- Widget Tag Cloud Starts here -->
    <div id="tag_cloud-2" class="widget widget_tag_cloud">
        <section class="cat-box recent-box secMarg">
                <h2 class="cat-box-title">MOST VISITED TAGS</h2>
            </section>
        <div class="widget-top wiPdTp">
           
            <div class="stripe-line"></div>
        </div>
        <div class="widget-container">
            <div class="tagcloud">
                                    <a href="https://im4change.in/search?qryStr=Agriculture"
                       target="_blank" class="tag-link-4 font4">Agriculture</a>
                                        <a href="https://im4change.in/search?qryStr=Food Security"
                       target="_blank" class="tag-link-4 font4">Food Security</a>
                                        <a href="https://im4change.in/search?qryStr=Law and Justice"
                       target="_blank" class="tag-link-4 font4">Law and Justice</a>
                                        <a href="https://im4change.in/search?qryStr=Health"
                       target="_blank" class="tag-link-4 font4">Health</a>
                                        <a href="https://im4change.in/search?qryStr=Right to Food"
                       target="_blank" class="tag-link-4 font4">Right to Food</a>
                                        <a href="https://im4change.in/search?qryStr=Corruption"
                       target="_blank" class="tag-link-4 font4">Corruption</a>
                                        <a href="https://im4change.in/search?qryStr=farming"
                       target="_blank" class="tag-link-4 font4">farming</a>
                                        <a href="https://im4change.in/search?qryStr=Environment"
                       target="_blank" class="tag-link-4 font4">Environment</a>
                                        <a href="https://im4change.in/search?qryStr=Right to Information"
                       target="_blank" class="tag-link-4 font4">Right to Information</a>
                                        <a href="https://im4change.in/search?qryStr=NREGS"
                       target="_blank" class="tag-link-4 font4">NREGS</a>
                                        <a href="https://im4change.in/search?qryStr=Human Rights"
                       target="_blank" class="tag-link-4 font4">Human Rights</a>
                                        <a href="https://im4change.in/search?qryStr=Governance"
                       target="_blank" class="tag-link-4 font4">Governance</a>
                                        <a href="https://im4change.in/search?qryStr=PDS"
                       target="_blank" class="tag-link-4 font4">PDS</a>
                                        <a href="https://im4change.in/search?qryStr=COVID-19"
                       target="_blank" class="tag-link-4 font4">COVID-19</a>
                                        <a href="https://im4change.in/search?qryStr=Land Acquisition"
                       target="_blank" class="tag-link-4 font4">Land Acquisition</a>
                                        <a href="https://im4change.in/search?qryStr=mgnrega"
                       target="_blank" class="tag-link-4 font4">mgnrega</a>
                                        <a href="https://im4change.in/search?qryStr=Farmers"
                       target="_blank" class="tag-link-4 font4">Farmers</a>
                                        <a href="https://im4change.in/search?qryStr=transparency"
                       target="_blank" class="tag-link-4 font4">transparency</a>
                                        <a href="https://im4change.in/search?qryStr=Gender"
                       target="_blank" class="tag-link-4 font4">Gender</a>
                                        <a href="https://im4change.in/search?qryStr=Poverty"
                       target="_blank" class="tag-link-4 font4">Poverty</a>
                                    
                                <a href="https://im4change.in/search?qryStr=Farm Laws" target="_blank" class="tag-link-4 font4">Farm Laws
                </a>
                <a href="https://im4change.in/search?qryStr=Citizenship Amendment Act" target="_blank" class="tag-link-4 font4">Citizenship Amendment Act
                </a>
                <a href="https://im4change.in/search?qryStr=CAA NPR NRIC" target="_blank" class="tag-link-4 font4">CAA NPR NRIC
                </a>
                <a href="https://im4change.in/search?qryStr=Job Losses" target="_blank" class="tag-link-4 font4">Job Losses
                </a>
                <a href="https://im4change.in/search?qryStr=Migrant Workers" target="_blank" class="tag-link-4 font4">Migrant Workers
                </a>
                <a href="https://im4change.in/search?qryStr=Unemployment" target="_blank" class="tag-link-4 font4">Unemployment
                </a>
                <a href="https://im4change.in/search?qryStr=PMGKAY" target="_blank" class="tag-link-4 font4">PMGKAY
                </a>
                <a href="https://im4change.in/search?qryStr=PM-KISAN" target="_blank" class="tag-link-4 font4">PM-KISAN
                </a>
                <a href="https://im4change.in/search?qryStr=PM-CARES" target="_blank" class="tag-link-4 font4">PM-CARES
                </a>
                <a href="https://im4change.in/search?qryStr=LFPR" target="_blank" class="tag-link-4 font4">LFPR
                </a>
                
            </div>
        </div>
    </div>
    <!-- Widget Tag Cloud Ends here -->
</aside>
<!-- Right Side Section End -->
        </div>
        <section class="cat-box cats-review-box footerSec">
    <h2 class="cat-box-title vSec CatArcha">Video
        Archives</h2>
    <h2 class="cat-box-title CatArchaTitle">Archives</h2>
    <div class="cat-box-content">
        <div class="reviews-cat">
            <div class="CatArchaDiv1">
                <div class="CatArchaDiv2">
                    <ul>
                                                    <li>
                                <a href="https://im4change.in/news-alerts-57/moving-upstream-luni-fellowship.html"  target="_blank">
                                     Moving Upstream: Luni – Fellowship                                </a>
                            </li>
                                                        <li>
                                <a href="https://im4change.in/news-alerts-57/135-million-indians-exited-multidimensional-poverty-as-per-government-figures-is-that-the-same-as-poverty-reduction.html"  target="_blank">
                                     135 Million Indians Exited “Multidimensional" Poverty as per Government...                                </a>
                            </li>
                                                        <li>
                                <a href="https://im4change.in/news-alerts-57/explainer-why-are-tomato-prices-on-fire.html"  target="_blank">
                                     Explainer: Why are Tomato Prices on Fire?                                </a>
                            </li>
                                                        <li>
                                <a href="https://im4change.in/news-alerts-57/nsso-survey-only-39-1-of-all-households-have-drinking-water-within-dwelling-46-7-of-rural-households-use-firewood-for-cooking.html"  target="_blank">
                                     NSSO Survey: Only 39.1% of all Households have Drinking...                                </a>
                            </li>
                                                    <li class="CatArchalLi1">
                            <a href="https://im4change.in/news-alerts-57"
                               class="more-link CatArchalAnch1"  target="_blank">
                                More...
                            </a>
                        </li>
                    </ul>
                </div>
                                    <div class="CatArchaWidth">
                        <img class="CatArchaImg"
                             src="https://img.youtube.com/vi/I51LYnP8BOk/1.jpg"
                             alt=" Im4Change.org हिंदी वेबसाइट का परिचय. Short Video on im4change.org...">
                        <p class="CatArchaPPad">
                            <a href="https://im4change.in/video/Short-Video-on-im4change-Hindi-website-Inclusive-Media-for-Change"  target="_blank">
                                 Im4Change.org हिंदी वेबसाइट का परिचय. Short Video on im4change.org...                            </a>
                        </p>
                    </div>
                                        <div class="CatArchaWidth">
                        <img class="CatArchaImg"
                             src="https://img.youtube.com/vi/kNqha-SwfIY/1.jpg"
                             alt=" "Session 1: Scope of IDEA and AgriStack" in Exploring...">
                        <p class="CatArchaPPad">
                            <a href="https://im4change.in/video/Session-1- Scope-of-IDEA-and-AgriStack-in-Exploring-Digitalisation-in-Agriculture-29-April-2022"  target="_blank">
                                 "Session 1: Scope of IDEA and AgriStack" in Exploring...                            </a>
                        </p>
                    </div>
                                        <div class="CatArchaWidth">
                        <img class="CatArchaImg"
                             src="https://img.youtube.com/vi/6kIVjlgZItk/1.jpg"
                             alt=" "Session 2: Farmer Centric Digitalisation in Agriculture" in Exploring...">
                        <p class="CatArchaPPad">
                            <a href="https://im4change.in/video/Session-2-Farmer-Centric-Digitalisation-in-Agriculture-in-Exploring-Digitalisation-in-Agriculture-29-April-2022"  target="_blank">
                                 "Session 2: Farmer Centric Digitalisation in Agriculture" in Exploring...                            </a>
                        </p>
                    </div>
                                        <div class="CatArchaWidth">
                        <img class="CatArchaImg"
                             src="https://img.youtube.com/vi/2BeHTu0y7xc/1.jpg"
                             alt=" "Session 3: Future of Digitalisation in Agriculture" in Exploring...">
                        <p class="CatArchaPPad">
                            <a href="https://im4change.in/video/Session-3-Future-of-Digitalisation-in-Agriculture-in-Exploring-Digitalisation-in-Agriculture-29-April-2022"  target="_blank">
                                 "Session 3: Future of Digitalisation in Agriculture" in Exploring...                            </a>
                        </p>
                    </div>
                    


                <div class="divWidth">
                    <ul class="divWidthMarg">
                                                    <li>
                                <a href="https://im4change.in/video/Public-Spending-on-Agriculture-in-India-Source-Foundation-for-Agrarian-Studies"
                                   title="Public Spending on Agriculture in India (Source: Foundation for Agrarian Studies)"  target="_blank">
                                     Public Spending on Agriculture in India (Source: Foundation for...</a>
                            </li>
                                                        <li>
                                <a href="https://im4change.in/video/Agrarian-Change-Seminar-Protests-against-the-New-Farm-Laws-in-India-by-Prof-Vikas-Rawal-JNU-Source-Journal-Of-Agrarian-Change"
                                   title="Agrarian Change Seminar: 'Protests against the New Farm Laws in India' by Prof. Vikas Rawal, JNU (Source: Journal Of Agrarian Change) "  target="_blank">
                                     Agrarian Change Seminar: 'Protests against the New Farm Laws...</a>
                            </li>
                                                        <li>
                                <a href="https://im4change.in/video/Webinar-Ramrao-The-Story-of-India-Farm-Crisis-Source-Azim-Premji-University"
                                   title="Webinar: Ramrao - The Story of India's Farm Crisis (Source: Azim Premji University)"  target="_blank">
                                     Webinar: Ramrao - The Story of India's Farm Crisis...</a>
                            </li>
                                                        <li>
                                <a href="https://im4change.in/video/water-and-agricultural-transformation-in-India"
                                   title="Water and Agricultural Transformation in India: A Symbiotic Relationship (Source: IGIDR)"  target="_blank">
                                     Water and Agricultural Transformation in India: A Symbiotic Relationship...</a>
                            </li>
                                                    <li class="CatArchalLi1">
                            <a href="https://im4change.in/videogallery"
                               class="more-link CatArchalAnch1"  target="_blank">
                                More...
                            </a>
                        </li>
                    </ul>
                </div>
            </div>
        </div>
    </div>
</section>    </div>
    <div class="clear"></div>
    <!-- Footer option Starts here -->
    <div class="footer-bottom fade-in animated4">
        <div class="container">
            <div class="social-icons icon_flat">
                <p class="SocialMargTop"> Website Developed by <a target="_blank" title="Web Development"
                                                                  class="wot right"
                                                                  href="http://www.ravinderkhurana.com/" rel="nofollow">
                                                                  RAVINDErkHURANA.com</a></p>
            </div>
            <div class="alignleft">
                <a
     target="_blank" href="https://im4change.in/objectives-8.html"
    class="link"
    title="Objectives">Objectives</a> | <a
     target="_blank" href="https://im4change.in/about-us-9.html"
    class="link" title="About Us">About Us</a> | <a
     target="_blank" href="https://im4change.in/media-workshops.php"
    class="ucwords">Workshops</a> | <a
     target="_blank" href="https://im4change.in/disclaimer/disclaimer-149.html"
    title="Disclaimer">Disclaimer</a>            </div>
        </div>
    </div>
    <!-- Footer option ends here -->
</div>
<div id="connect">
    <a target="_blank"
       href="http://www.facebook.com/sharer.php?u=https://im4change.in/technology/how-whatsapp-messages-from-bhutan-are-saving-lives-in-assam-shailendra-yashwant-4687529.html"
       title="Share on Facebook">
        <img src="https://im4change.in/images/Facebook.png?1582080640" alt="share on Facebook" class="ImgBorder"/>
    </a><br/>
    <a target="_blank"
       href="http://twitter.com/share?text=Im4change&amp;url=https://im4change.in/technology/how-whatsapp-messages-from-bhutan-are-saving-lives-in-assam-shailendra-yashwant-4687529.html"
       title="Share on Twitter">
        <img src="https://im4change.in/images/twitter.png?1582080632" alt="Twitter" class="ImgBorder"/>    </a>
    <br/>
    <a href="/feeds" title="RSS Feed" target="_blank">
        <img src="https://im4change.in/images/rss.png?1582080632" alt="RSS" class="ImgBorder"/>
    </a>
    <br/>
    <a class="feedback-link" id="feedbackFormLink" href="#">
        <img src="https://im4change.in/images/feedback.png?1582080630" alt="Feedback" class="ImgBorder"/>
    </a> <br/>
    <a href="javascript:function iprl5(){var d=document,z=d.createElement('scr'+'ipt'),b=d.body,l=d.location;try{if(!b)throw(0);d.title='(Saving...) '+d.title;z.setAttribute('src',l.protocol+'//www.instapaper.com/j/WKrH3R7ORD5p?u='+encodeURIComponent(l.href)+'&amp;t='+(new Date().getTime()));b.appendChild(z);}catch(e){alert('Please wait until the page has loaded.');}}iprl5();void(0)"
       class="bookmarklet" onclick="return explain_bookmarklet();">
        <img src="https://im4change.in/images/read-it-later.png?1582080632" alt="Read Later" class="ImgBorder"/>    </a>
</div>
<!-- Feedback form Starts here -->
<div id="feedbackForm" class="overlay_form" class="ImgBorder">
    <h2>Contact Form</h2>
    <div id="contactform1">
        <div id="formleft">
            <form id="submitform" action="/contactus.php" method="post">
                <input type="hidden" name="submitform" value="submitform"/>
                <input type="hidden" name="salt_key" value="a0e0f2c6a0644a70e57ad2c96829709a"/>
                <input type="hidden" name="ref" value="feedback"/>
                <fieldset>
                    <label>Name :</label>
                    <input type="text" name="name" class="tbox" required/>
                </fieldset>
                <fieldset>
                    <label>Email :</label>
                    <input type="text" name="email" class="tbox" required/>
                </fieldset>
                <fieldset>
                    <label>Message :</label>
                    <textarea rows="5" cols="20" name="message" required></textarea>
                </fieldset>
                <fieldset>
                    Please enter security code
                    <div class="clear"></div>
                    <input type="text" name="vrcode" class="tbox"/>
                </fieldset>
                <fieldset>
                    <input type="submit" class="button" value="Submit"/>
                    &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; <a href="#" id="closefeedbakcformLink">Close</a>
                </fieldset>
            </form>
        </div>
        <div class="clearfix"></div>
    </div>
</div>
<div id="donate_popup" class="modal" style="max-width: 800px;">
    <table width="100%" border="1">
        <tr>
            <td colspan="2" align="center">
                <b>Support im4change</b>
            </td>
        </tr>
        <tr>
            <td width="25%" valign="middle">
                <img src="https://im4change.in/images/logo2.jpg?1582080632" alt="" width="100%"/>            </td>
            <td style="padding-left:10px;padding-top:10px;">
                <form action="https://im4change.in/donate" method="get">
                    <table width="100%" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="2">
                        <tr>
                            <td width="33%" style="font-family: 'Script Font', cursive, Arial;font-size: 20px;font-weight: 700;">
                                10
                            </td>
                            <td width="33%" style="font-family: 'Script Font', cursive, Arial;font-size: 20px;font-weight: 700;">
                                100
                            </td>
                            <td width="33%" style="font-family: 'Script Font', cursive, Arial;font-size: 20px;font-weight: 700;">
                                1000
                            </td>
                        </tr>
                        <tr>
                            <td colspan="3">
                                &nbsp;
                            </td>
                        </tr>
                        <tr>
                            <td  style="font-family: 'Script Font', cursive, Arial;font-size: 20px;font-weight: 700;">
                                50
                            </td>
                            <td  style="font-family: 'Script Font', cursive, Arial;font-size: 20px;font-weight: 700;">
                                500
                            </td>
                            <td  style="font-family: 'Script Font', cursive, Arial;font-size: 20px;font-weight: 700;">
                                <input type="text" name="price" placeholder="?" style="font-family: 'Script Font', cursive, Arial;font-size: 20px;font-weight: 700;">
                            </td>
                        </tr>
                        <tr>
                            <td colspan="3">
                                &nbsp;
                            </td>
                        </tr>
                        <tr>
                            <td colspan="3" align="right">
                                <input type="button" name="Pay" value="Pay"
                                       style="width: 200px;background-color: rgb(205, 35, 36);color: #ffffff;"/>
                            </td>
                        </tr>
                    </table>
                </form>
            </td>
        </tr>
    </table>
</div><script type='text/javascript'>

    /* <![CDATA[ */

    var tievar = {'go_to': 'Go to...'};

    /* ]]> */

</script>
<script src="/js/tie-scripts.js?1575549704"></script><script src="/js/bootstrap.js?1575549704"></script><script src="/js/jquery.modal.min.js?1578284310"></script><script>
    $(document).ready(function() {
        // tell the autocomplete function to get its data from our php script
        $('#s').autocomplete({
            source: "/autocomplete"
        });
    });
</script>
<script src="/vj-main-sw-register.js" async></script>

<script>function init(){var imgDefer=document.getElementsByTagName('img');for(var i=0;i<imgDefer.length;i++){if(imgDefer[i].getAttribute('data-src')){imgDefer[i].setAttribute('src',imgDefer[i].getAttribute('data-src'))}}}
window.onload=init;</script>
</body>
</html>'

}
$maxBufferLength = (int) 8192
$file = '/home/brlfuser/public_html/vendor/cakephp/cakephp/src/Error/Debugger.php'
$line = (int) 853
$message = 'Unable to emit headers. Headers sent in file=/home/brlfuser/public_html/vendor/cakephp/cakephp/src/Error/Debugger.php line=853'
Cake\Http\ResponseEmitter::emit() - CORE/src/Http/ResponseEmitter.php, line 48
Cake\Http\Server::emit() - CORE/src/Http/Server.php, line 141
[main] - ROOT/webroot/index.php, line 39

Warning (2): Cannot modify header information - headers already sent by (output started at /home/brlfuser/public_html/vendor/cakephp/cakephp/src/Error/Debugger.php:853) [CORE/src/Http/ResponseEmitter.php, line 148]
Code Context
            $response->getStatusCode(),

            ($reasonPhrase ? ' ' . $reasonPhrase : '')

        ));
$response = object(Cake\Http\Response) {

	'status' => (int) 200,
	'contentType' => 'text/html',
	'headers' => [
		'Content-Type' => [
			[maximum depth reached]
		]
	],
	'file' => null,
	'fileRange' => [],
	'cookies' => object(Cake\Http\Cookie\CookieCollection) {},
	'cacheDirectives' => [],
	'body' => '<!DOCTYPE html>
<!--[if lt IE 7 ]>
<html class="ie ie6" lang='en'> <![endif]-->
<!--[if IE 7 ]>
<html class="ie ie7" lang='en'> <![endif]-->
<!--[if IE 8 ]>
<html class="ie ie8" lang='en'> <![endif]-->
<!--[if (gte IE 9)|!(IE)]><!-->
<html lang='en'>
<!--<![endif]-->
<head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8">
    
    <title>
        Technology | How WhatsApp messages from Bhutan are saving lives in Assam -Shailendra Yashwant    </title>
    <meta name="description" content="
-Scroll.in/ The Third Pole

Flash-flood warnings routed through NGOs are giving border villages precious lead-time to escape the wrath of suddenly rising rivers.

In the last few weeks of June, a series of WhatsApp messages were sent from Bhutan to India to..."/>
    <meta name="keywords" content="flash floods,WhatsApp,Early Warnings,Flooding,Community Social Media Networks"/>
    <meta name="news_keywords" content="flash floods,WhatsApp,Early Warnings,Flooding,Community Social Media Networks">
   
    <link rel="alternate" type="application/rss+xml" title="ROR" href="/ror.xml"/>
    <link rel="alternate" type="application/rss+xml" title="RSS 2.0" href="/feeds/"/>
    <link rel="stylesheet" href="/css/bootstrap.min.css?1697864993"/>    <link rel="stylesheet" href="/css/style.css?v=1.1.2"/>    <link rel="stylesheet" href="/css/style-inner.css?1577045210"/>    <link rel="stylesheet" id="Oswald-css"
          href="https://fonts.googleapis.com/css?family=Oswald%3Aregular%2C700&amp;ver=3.8.1" type="text/css"
          media="all">
    <link rel="stylesheet" href="/css/jquery.modal.min.css?1578285302"/>    <script src="/js/jquery-1.10.2.js?1575549704"></script>    <script src="/js/jquery-migrate.min.js?1575549704"></script>    <link rel="shortcut icon" href="/favicon.ico" title="Favicon">
    <link rel="stylesheet" href="/css/jquery-ui.css?1580720609"/>    <script src="/js/jquery-ui.js?1575549704"></script>    <link rel="preload" as="style" href="https://www.im4change.org/css/custom.css" onload="this.rel='stylesheet'" media="all" crossorigin="anonymous">
<link rel="preload" as="style" href="https://www.im4change.org/css/jquery.modal.min.css" onload="this.rel='stylesheet'" media="all" crossorigin="anonymous">
<link rel="preload" as="style" href="https://www.im4change.org/css/jquery-ui.css" onload="this.rel='stylesheet'" media="all" crossorigin="anonymous">
<link rel="preload" as="style" href="https://www.im4change.org/css/li-scroller.css" onload="this.rel='stylesheet'" media="all" crossorigin="anonymous">
<!-- <link rel="preload" as="style" href="https://www.im4change.org/css/style.css" onload="this.rel='stylesheet'" media="all" crossorigin="anonymous"> -->
<link rel="preload" as="style" href="https://www.im4change.org/css/style-inner.css" onload="this.rel='stylesheet'" media="all" crossorigin="anonymous">

<link rel='dns-prefetch' href="//im4change.org/css/custom.css" crossorigin >

<link rel="preload" as="script" href="https://www.im4change.org/js/bootstrap.js">
<link rel="preload" as="script" href="https://www.im4change.org/js/jquery.li-scroller.1.0.js">
<link rel="preload" as="script" href="https://www.im4change.org/js/jquery.modal.min.js">
<link rel="preload" as="script" href="https://www.im4change.org/js/jquery.ui.totop.js">
<link rel="preload" as="script" href="https://www.im4change.org/js/jquery-1.10.2.js">
<link rel="preload" as="script" href="https://www.im4change.org/js/jquery-migrate.min.js">
<link rel="preload" as="script" href="https://www.im4change.org/js/jquery-ui.js">
<link rel="preload" as="script" href="https://www.im4change.org/js/setting.js">
<link rel="preload" as="script" href="https://www.im4change.org/js/tie-scripts.js">
    <!--[if IE]>
    <script type="text/javascript">jQuery(document).ready(function () {
        jQuery(".menu-item").has("ul").children("a").attr("aria-haspopup", "true");
    });</script>
    <![endif]-->
    <!--[if lt IE 9]>
    <script src="/js/html5.js"></script>
    <script src="/js/selectivizr-min.js"></script>
    <![endif]-->
    <!--[if IE 8]>
    <link rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" media="all" href="/css/ie8.css"/>
    <![endif]-->
    <meta property="og:title" content="Technology | How WhatsApp messages from Bhutan are saving lives in Assam -Shailendra Yashwant" />
     <meta property="og:url" content="https://im4change.in/technology/how-whatsapp-messages-from-bhutan-are-saving-lives-in-assam-shailendra-yashwant-4687529.html" />
     <meta property="og:type" content="article" />
     <meta property="og:description" content="
-Scroll.in/ The Third Pole

Flash-flood warnings routed through NGOs are giving border villages precious lead-time to escape the wrath of suddenly rising rivers.

In the last few weeks of June, a series of WhatsApp messages were sent from Bhutan to India to..." />
     <meta property="og:image" content="" />
      <meta property="fb:app_id" content="0" />
    <meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1, maximum-scale=1, user-scalable=no">

       <link rel="apple-touch-icon-precomposed" sizes="144x144" href="https://im4change.in/images/apple1.png">
    <link rel="apple-touch-icon-precomposed" sizes="120x120" href="https://im4change.in/images/apple2.png">
    <link rel="apple-touch-icon-precomposed" sizes="72x72" href="https://im4change.in/images/apple3.png">
    <link rel="apple-touch-icon-precomposed" href="https://im4change.in/images/apple4.png">

    <style>
    .gsc-results-wrapper-overlay{
        top: 38% !important;
        height: 50% !important;
    }
    .gsc-search-button-v2{
        border-color: #035588 !important;
        background-color: #035588 !important;
    }

   .gsib_a{
        height: 30px !important;
          padding: 2px 8px 1px 6px !important;
    }

   
    .gsc-search-button-v2{
        height: 41px !important;
    }
    input.gsc-input{
        background: none !important;
    }
    @media only screen and (max-width: 600px) {
        .gsc-results-wrapper-overlay{
            top: 11% !important;
            width: 87% !important;
            left: 9% !important;
            height: 43% !important;
        }

        .gsc-search-button-v2{
            padding: 10px 10px !important;
        
        }
        .gsc-input-box{
            height: 28px !important;
        }
       /* .gsib_a {
            padding: 0px 9px 4px 9px !important;
        }*/
    }
    @media only screen and (min-width: 1200px) and (max-width: 1920px) {
        table.gsc-search-box{
            width: 15% !important;
            float: right !important;
            margin-top: -118px !important;
        }

        .gsc-search-button-v2 {
            
            padding: 6px !important;
           
        }
    }


</style>

    <script>
        $(function () {
            $("#accordion").accordion({
                event: "click hoverintent"
            });
        });

        /*
         * hoverIntent | Copyright 2011 Brian Cherne
         * http://cherne.net/brian/resources/jquery.hoverIntent.html
         * modified by the jQuery UI team
         */
        $.event.special.hoverintent = {
            setup: function () {
                $(this).bind("mouseover", jQuery.event.special.hoverintent.handler);
            },
            teardown: function () {
                $(this).unbind("mouseover", jQuery.event.special.hoverintent.handler);
            },
            handler: function (event) {
                var currentX, currentY, timeout,
                    args = arguments,
                    target = $(event.target),
                    previousX = event.pageX,
                    previousY = event.pageY;

                function track(event) {
                    currentX = event.pageX;
                    currentY = event.pageY;
                }
                ;

                function clear() {
                    target
                        .unbind("mousemove", track)
                        .unbind("mouseout", clear);
                    clearTimeout(timeout);
                }

                function handler() {
                    var prop,
                        orig = event;
                    if ((Math.abs(previousX - currentX) +
                        Math.abs(previousY - currentY)) < 7) {
                        clear();
                        event = $.Event("hoverintent");
                        for (prop in orig) {
                            if (!(prop in event)) {
                                event[prop] = orig[prop];
                            }
                        }
                        // Prevent accessing the original event since the new event
                        // is fired asynchronously and the old event is no longer
                        // usable (#6028)
                        delete event.originalEvent;
                        target.trigger(event);
                    } else {
                        previousX = currentX;
                        previousY = currentY;
                        timeout = setTimeout(handler, 100);
                    }
                }

                timeout = setTimeout(handler, 100);
                target.bind({
                    mousemove: track,
                    mouseout: clear
                });
            }
        };
    </script>
    <script type="text/javascript">
        var _gaq = _gaq || [];
        _gaq.push(['_setAccount', 'UA-472075-3']);
        _gaq.push(['_trackPageview']);

        (function () {
            var ga = document.createElement('script');
            ga.type = 'text/javascript';
            ga.async = true;
            ga.src = ('https:' == document.location.protocol ? 'https://ssl' : 'http://www') + '.google-analytics.com/ga.js';
            var s = document.getElementsByTagName('script')[0];
            s.parentNode.insertBefore(ga, s);
        })();
    </script>
    <link rel="stylesheet" href="/css/custom.css?v=1.16"/>    <script src="/js/jquery.ui.totop.js?1575549704"></script>    <script src="/js/setting.js?1575549704"></script>    <link rel="manifest" href="/manifest.json">
    <meta name="theme-color" content="#616163" />
    <meta name="apple-mobile-web-app-capable" content="yes">
    <meta name="apple-mobile-web-app-status-bar-style" content="black">
    <meta name="apple-mobile-web-app-title" content="im4change">
    <link rel="apple-touch-icon" href="/icons/logo-192x192.png">
</head>
<body id="top" class="home inner blog">
<div class="background-cover"></div>
<div class="wrapper animated">
    <header id="theme-header" class="header_inner" style="position: relative;">
        <div class="logo inner_logo" style="left:20px !important">
                <a title="Home" href="https://im4change.in/">
                    <img src="https://im4change.in/images/logo2.jpg?1582080632" class="logo_image" alt="im4change"/>                </a>
        </div>
        <div class="langhindi" style="color: #000;display:none;"
             href="https://im4change.in/">
            <a class="more-link" href="https://im4change.in/">Home</a>
                        <a href="https://im4change.in/hindi/" class="langbutton ">हिन्दी</a>
                    </div>
        <nav class="fade-in animated2" id="main-nav">
            <div class="container">
                <div class="main-menu">
    <ul class="menu" id="menu-main">
        <li class="menu-item  menu-item-type-custom  menu-item-object-custom  menu-item-has-children"
            style="left: -40px;"><a
                 target="_blank" href="https://im4change.in/">Home</a>
        </li>
        <li class="menu-item mega-menu menu-item-type-taxonomy mega-menu menu-item-object-category mega-menu menu-item-has-children parent-list"
            style=" margin-left: -40px;"><a href="#">KNOWLEDGE GATEWAY <span class="sub-indicator"></span>
            </a>
            <div class="mega-menu-block background_menu" style="padding-top:25px;">
                <div class="container">
                    <div class="mega-menu-content">
                                                                   <div class="mega-menu-item">
                                                 <h3><b>Farm Crisis</b></h3>
                                                                                                    <p style="padding-left:5px;">
                                                    <a  target="_blank" href="https://im4change.in/farm-crisis/farmers039-suicides-14.html"
                                                       class="left postionrel">Farm Suicides                                                       </a>
                                                </p>
                                                                                                        <p style="padding-left:5px;">
                                                    <a  target="_blank" href="https://im4change.in/farm-crisis/unemployment-30.html"
                                                       class="left postionrel">Unemployment                                                       </a>
                                                </p>
                                                                                                        <p style="padding-left:5px;">
                                                    <a  target="_blank" href="https://im4change.in/farm-crisis/rural-distress-70.html"
                                                       class="left postionrel">Rural distress                                                       </a>
                                                </p>
                                                                                                        <p style="padding-left:5px;">
                                                    <a  target="_blank" href="https://im4change.in/farm-crisis/migration-34.html"
                                                       class="left postionrel">Migration                                                       </a>
                                                </p>
                                                                                                        <p style="padding-left:5px;">
                                                    <a  target="_blank" href="https://im4change.in/farm-crisis/key-facts-72.html"
                                                       class="left postionrel">Key Facts                                                       </a>
                                                </p>
                                                                                                        <p style="padding-left:5px;">
                                                    <a  target="_blank" href="https://im4change.in/farm-crisis/debt-trap-15.html"
                                                       class="left postionrel">Debt Trap                                                       </a>
                                                </p>
                                                                                                
                                              </div> 
                                            
                                                                                        <div class="mega-menu-item">
                                                 <h3><b>Empowerment</b></h3>
                                                                                                    <p style="padding-left:5px;">
                                                    <a  target="_blank" href="https://im4change.in/empowerment/union-budget-73.html"
                                                       class="left postionrel">Union Budget And Other Economic Policies                                                       </a>
                                                </p>
                                                                                                        <p style="padding-left:5px;">
                                                    <a  target="_blank" href="https://im4change.in/empowerment/forest-and-tribal-rights-61.html"
                                                       class="left postionrel">Forest and Tribal Rights                                                       </a>
                                                </p>
                                                                                                        <p style="padding-left:5px;">
                                                    <a  target="_blank" href="https://im4change.in/empowerment/right-to-education-60.html"
                                                       class="left postionrel">Right to Education                                                       </a>
                                                </p>
                                                                                                        <p style="padding-left:5px;">
                                                    <a  target="_blank" href="https://im4change.in/empowerment/right-to-food-59.html"
                                                       class="left postionrel">Right to Food                                                       </a>
                                                </p>
                                                                                                        <p style="padding-left:5px;">
                                                    <a  target="_blank" href="https://im4change.in/empowerment/displacement-3279.html"
                                                       class="left postionrel">Displacement                                                       </a>
                                                </p>
                                                                                                        <p style="padding-left:5px;">
                                                    <a  target="_blank" href="https://im4change.in/empowerment/right-to-work-mg-nrega-39.html"
                                                       class="left postionrel">Right to Work (MG-NREGA)                                                       </a>
                                                </p>
                                                                                                        <p style="padding-left:5px;">
                                                    <a  target="_blank" href="https://im4change.in/empowerment/gender-3280.html"
                                                       class="left postionrel">GENDER                                                       </a>
                                                </p>
                                                                                                        <p style="padding-left:5px;">
                                                    <a  target="_blank" href="https://im4change.in/empowerment/right-to-information-58.html"
                                                       class="left postionrel">Right to Information                                                       </a>
                                                </p>
                                                                                                        <p style="padding-left:5px;">
                                                    <a  target="_blank" href="https://im4change.in/empowerment/social-audit-48.html"
                                                       class="left postionrel">Social Audit                                                       </a>
                                                </p>
                                                                                                
                                              </div> 
                                            
                                                                                        <div class="mega-menu-item">
                                                 <h3><b>Hunger / HDI</b></h3>
                                                                                                    <p style="padding-left:5px;">
                                                    <a  target="_blank" href="https://im4change.in/hunger-hdi/poverty-and-inequality-20499.html"
                                                       class="left postionrel">Poverty and inequality                                                       </a>
                                                </p>
                                                                                                        <p style="padding-left:5px;">
                                                    <a  target="_blank" href="https://im4change.in/hunger-hdi/malnutrition-41.html"
                                                       class="left postionrel">Malnutrition                                                       </a>
                                                </p>
                                                                                                        <p style="padding-left:5px;">
                                                    <a  target="_blank" href="https://im4change.in/hunger-hdi/public-health-51.html"
                                                       class="left postionrel">Public Health                                                       </a>
                                                </p>
                                                                                                        <p style="padding-left:5px;">
                                                    <a  target="_blank" href="https://im4change.in/hunger-hdi/education-50.html"
                                                       class="left postionrel">Education                                                       </a>
                                                </p>
                                                                                                        <p style="padding-left:5px;">
                                                    <a  target="_blank" href="https://im4change.in/hunger-hdi/hunger-overview-40.html"
                                                       class="left postionrel">Hunger Overview                                                       </a>
                                                </p>
                                                                                                        <p style="padding-left:5px;">
                                                    <a  target="_blank" href="https://im4change.in/hunger-hdi/hdi-overview-45.html"
                                                       class="left postionrel">HDI Overview                                                       </a>
                                                </p>
                                                                                                        <p style="padding-left:5px;">
                                                    <a  target="_blank" href="https://im4change.in/hunger-hdi/pds-ration-food-security-42.html"
                                                       class="left postionrel">PDS/ Ration/ Food Security                                                       </a>
                                                </p>
                                                                                                        <p style="padding-left:5px;">
                                                    <a  target="_blank" href="https://im4change.in/hunger-hdi/sdgs-113.html"
                                                       class="left postionrel">SDGs                                                       </a>
                                                </p>
                                                                                                        <p style="padding-left:5px;">
                                                    <a  target="_blank" href="https://im4change.in/hunger-hdi/mid-day-meal-scheme-mdms-53.html"
                                                       class="left postionrel">Mid Day Meal Scheme (MDMS)                                                       </a>
                                                </p>
                                                                                                
                                              </div> 
                                            
                                                                                        <div class="mega-menu-item">
                                                 <h3><b>Environment</b></h3>
                                                                                                    <p style="padding-left:5px;">
                                                    <a  target="_blank" href="https://im4change.in/environment/time-bomb-ticking-52.html"
                                                       class="left postionrel">Time Bomb Ticking                                                       </a>
                                                </p>
                                                                                                        <p style="padding-left:5px;">
                                                    <a  target="_blank" href="https://im4change.in/environment/water-and-sanitation-55.html"
                                                       class="left postionrel">Water and Sanitation                                                       </a>
                                                </p>
                                                                                                        <p style="padding-left:5px;">
                                                    <a  target="_blank" href="https://im4change.in/environment/impact-on-agriculture-54.html"
                                                       class="left postionrel">Impact on Agriculture                                                       </a>
                                                </p>
                                                                                                
                                              </div> 
                                            
                                                                                        <div class="mega-menu-item">
                                                 <h3><b>Law & Justice</b></h3>
                                                                                                    <p style="padding-left:5px;">
                                                    <a  target="_blank" href="https://im4change.in/law-justice/social-justice-20500.html"
                                                       class="left postionrel">Social Justice                                                       </a>
                                                </p>
                                                                                                        <p style="padding-left:5px;">
                                                    <a  target="_blank" href="https://im4change.in/law-justice/access-to-justice-47.html"
                                                       class="left postionrel">Access to Justice                                                       </a>
                                                </p>
                                                                                                        <p style="padding-left:5px;">
                                                    <a  target="_blank" href="https://im4change.in/law-justice/human-rights-56.html"
                                                       class="left postionrel">Human Rights                                                       </a>
                                                </p>
                                                                                                        <p style="padding-left:5px;">
                                                    <a  target="_blank" href="https://im4change.in/law-justice/corruption-35.html"
                                                       class="left postionrel">Corruption                                                       </a>
                                                </p>
                                                                                                        <p style="padding-left:5px;">
                                                    <a  target="_blank" href="https://im4change.in/law-justice/general-insecurity-46.html"
                                                       class="left postionrel">General Insecurity                                                       </a>
                                                </p>
                                                                                                        <p style="padding-left:5px;">
                                                    <a  target="_blank" href="https://im4change.in/law-justice/disaster-relief-49.html"
                                                       class="left postionrel">Disaster &amp; Relief                                                       </a>
                                                </p>
                                                                                                
                                              </div> 
                                            
                                                                                        
                    </div>
                </div>
            </div>
        </li>
        <li class="menu-item  menu-item-type-post_type  menu-item-object-page "><a  target="_blank" href="https://im4change.in/nceus_reports.php">NCEUS reports</a>
            
        </li>
        <li class="menu-item  menu-item-type-custom  menu-item-object-custom  menu-item-has-children parent-list ">
            <a  target="_blank" href="https://im4change.in/about-us-9.html">About Us <span
                    class="sub-indicator"></span></a>
            <ul class="sub-menu aboutmenu">
                <li class="menu-item  menu-item-type-post_type  menu-item-object-page"><a
                        target="_blank" href="https://im4change.in/objectives-8.html">Objectives</a>
                </li>
                <li class="menu-item  menu-item-type-post_type  menu-item-object-page"><a
                         target="_blank" href="https://im4change.in/contactus.php">Contact
                        Us</a></li>
                <li class="menu-item  menu-item-type-post_type  menu-item-object-page"><a
                         target="_blank" href="https://im4change.in/about-us-9.html">About
                        Us</a></li>
            </ul>
        </li>
        <li class="menu-item  menu-item-type-custom  menu-item-object-custom  menu-item-has-children ">
            <a  target="_blank" href="https://im4change.in/fellowships.php" title="Fellowships">Fellowships</a>
        </li>
        <li class="menu-item  menu-item-type-custom  menu-item-object-custom  menu-item-has-children  "><a
                 target="_blank" href="https://im4change.in/media-workshops.php">Workshops</a>
        </li>
        <li class="menu-item  menu-item-type-custom  menu-item-object-custom  menu-item-has-children  "><a
                 target="_blank" href="https://im4change.in/research.php">Research</a></li>
        <li class="menu-item  menu-item-type-custom  menu-item-object-custom  menu-item-has-children   "><a
                 target="_blank" href="https://im4change.in/links-64">Partners</a></li>
        <li class="menu-item  menu-item-type-custom  menu-item-object-custom  menu-item-has-children"
            id="menu-item-539"><a  target="_blank" href="https://im4change.in/hindi/"
                                  class="langbutton langlinkfont17">हिन्दी</a></li>
    </ul>
</div>            </div>


                        <!--  <div style="float: right;">
                            <script async src="https://cse.google.com/cse.js?cx=18b4f2e0f11bed3dd"></script>
                            <div class="gcse-search"></div>
                        </div> -->
                       
            <div class="search-block" style=" margin-left: 8px; margin-right: 7px;">
                <form method="get" id="searchform" name="searchform"
                      action="https://im4change.in/search"
                      onsubmit="return searchvalidate();">
                    <button class="search-button" type="submit" value="Search"></button>
                    <input type="text" id="s" name="qryStr" value=""
                           onfocus="if (this.value == 'Search...') {this.value = '';}"
                           onblur="if (this.value == '') {this.value = 'Search...';}">
                </form>
            </div>
        </nav>
    </header>
    <div class="container">
        <div id="main-content" class=" main1 container fade-in animated3 sidebar-narrow-left">
            <div class="content-wrap">
                <div class="content" style="width: 900px;min-height: 500px;">
                    <section class="cat-box recent-box innerCatRecent">
    <h1 class="cat-box-title">How WhatsApp messages from Bhutan are saving lives in Assam -Shailendra Yashwant</h1>
    <a href="JavaScript:void(0);" onclick="return shareArticle(39397);">
        <img src="https://im4change.in/images/email.png?1582080630" border="0" width="24" align="right" alt="Share this article"/>    </a>

    <a href="https://im4change.in/technology/how-whatsapp-messages-from-bhutan-are-saving-lives-in-assam-shailendra-yashwant-4687529/print"
       rel="nofollow">
        <img src="https://im4change.in/images/icon-print.png?1582080630" border="0" width="24" align="right" alt="Share this article"/>
    </a>
</section>
<section class="recent-box innerCatRecent">
    <small class="pb-1"><span class="dateIcn">
    	<img src="https://im4change.in/images/published.svg?1582080666" alt="published"/> 
		 Published on</span><span class="text-date"> Jul 8, 2019</span>
        &nbsp; <span
                class="dateIcn">
		 	<img src="https://im4change.in/images/modified.svg?1582080666" alt="modified"/>    	 Modified on </span><span class="text-date"> Jul 8, 2019</span>
    </small>
</section>
<div class="clear"></div>
<div style="padding-top: 10px;">
    <div class="innerLineHeight">
        <div class="middleContent innerInput technology">
            <table>
                <tr>
                    <td>
                                                <div>
                            <div align="justify">-Scroll.in/ The Third Pole<br /><br /><em>Flash-flood warnings routed through NGOs are giving border villages precious lead-time to escape the wrath of suddenly rising rivers.<br /></em><br />In the last few weeks of June, a series of WhatsApp messages were sent from Bhutan to India to warn cross-border friends downstream of the Aai, Saralbhanga and Manas rivers about cloud-bursts, swollen rivers and possible flash floods affecting people in the Indian state of Assam.<br /><br />Although originating from officials, these messages were not sent via official channels. That would involve the dzongdag &ndash; the administrative head of the dzonkhag, or district &ndash; in Geluphu passing information to the officials in Bhutan&rsquo;s capital Thimphu, who would then inform officials in New Delhi, the capital of India. They would, in turn, inform officials in Guwahati, the capital of the Indian state of Assam, who would pass the warnings on to Kokrajhar district headquarters. In the final stage, these messages would be relayed from there to villages along the India-Bhutan border.<br /><br />In most cases, this circuitous channel would take too long, with information either critically delayed or unclear and of little use to most river-bank communities in downstream Assam.<br /><br />Now, though, the communities are relying on these WhatsApp early warnings routed through members of the Bhutan-India Friendship Association to friends in NGOs like the North East Research and Social Work Networking , who pass the information to their network. Messages are forwarded within minutes, giving the villagers precious lead-time to prepare and escape the wrath of the suddenly rising rivers.<br /><br />&ldquo;It is difficult to predict when the flash floods will occur,&rdquo; said Kamal Kishor Hazarika, project officer at the District Disaster Management Authority in Kokrajhar. &ldquo;In case of water released from dams the Bhutanese government sends early warnings to New Delhi but even then some times, by the time we receive the information and pass it onto villages along the border it is too late. The challenge is lack of communication infrastructure in the area. There are no cell towers on the Indian side and most villagers on the border surreptitiously use Bhutanese SIM cards. Those WhatsApp messages probably save the lives of hundreds.&rdquo;<br /><br />These small rivers that start in Bhutan or Tibet flow into the transboundary Brahmaputra River in India.<br /><br />&ldquo;It&rsquo;s costly, using the internet, but for emergency, all the villagers depend on WhatsApp,&rdquo; agreed Aniram Basumatary of Saralpara village, speaking to The Third Pole. &ldquo;Communication is important, especially in the monsoon season. Anything can happen, and getting advance warning will help us to be ready. We have suffered enough because of the lack of warning.&rdquo;<br /><br />Decades of militancy in this corner of India has led to a complex situation, where communications infrastructure is seen as both a threat and an opportunity, making it a politically challenging decision to strengthen communications in the area.<br /><br /><em>The cost of no warning<br /></em><br />Banglajhora is a small village on the banks of Saralbhanga river in Kokrajhar district of Assam. The village faced three devastating floods in 2012, 2014 and then again in 2016. Since then, every monsoon the fear of floods is palpable among its residents, who belong to the Bodo indigenous community.<br /><br />Satyaraj Narzary recalled the floods of July 16, 2012. &ldquo;When I woke up in the morning, there was no water,&rdquo; said Narzary. &ldquo;Nor were there any signs of flood. But around 8 am, the water started rising and before we realised what was happening, the whole area was flooded. About 12 houses were washed away. Many families lost their cattle in the floods, their standing crop of paddy was destroyed and a considerable amount of land was lost due to erosion. We have not been able to farm on that land ever since.&rdquo; <br /><br />He said that the floods happened following heavy rains in the foothills of Bhutan when the Saralbhanga river broke a temporary embankment.<br /><br />In August 2014, Banglajhora was inundated again without warning, when the gushing waters of Saralbhanga eroded the Saralpara-Patgaon bund and several hectares of paddy and private properties in the area were destroyed. The local residents had to take shelter at a relief camp for over a week.<br /><br />The floods of 2016 were the worst. Heavy rains caused flash floods in most of the tributaries of the Brahmaputra. Nearly 1.8 million people were affected in 22 districts across Assam. Lower, Western Assam&rsquo;s Kokrajhar and Bongaigaon districts were the worst affected and the villagers of Banglajhora faced the brunt of it all.<br /><br />&ldquo;We had to run with our children and the few belongings we were able to gather,&rdquo; said Kamal Basumatari. &ldquo;One contingent of the Army rescue team was deployed to rescue us with lifeboats but the force of water was such that the first lifeboat turned turtle in the middle of the river and the villagers ended up rescuing the soldiers. After that, we made a raft with few tyre tubes and bamboo to ferry women, children and a few belongings across the river with great difficulty. I have never seen Saralbhanga so furious. The water was also very cold.&rdquo;<br /><br /><em>WhatsApp for disaster warning<br /></em><br />Neera Shreshta Pradhan of the International Centre for Integrated Mountain development told The Third Pole, &ldquo;Floods, both riverine and flash floods, are the most common hazards in the Hindu Kush Himalayas and account for 17% of people killed and 51% of the damage. Unlike riverine floods, flash floods occur rapidly with a very short lead time for warning. They can arise following intense rainfall events, or as a result of breaching of natural dams formed by landslides or from glacial lakes formed behind end moraine dams [called a glacial lake outburst flood].&rdquo;<br /><br />She added, &ldquo;In recent years, increasingly erratic and unpredictable monsoon rainfall patterns and increased climate variability have led to severe and frequent flood disasters in the region. There may be some information sharing between governments on major rivers, but tributaries are largely ignored. This is where social relations between transboundary communities are critical for any early warning systems to deliver. Clear and timely communication, proper functional network and preparedness reduces human casualties. Even a short lead time will save lives.&rdquo;<br /><br />Kripaljyoti Mazumder, state project officer at the Assam State Disaster Management Authority said, &ldquo;Bhutan is in a high rainfall zone but in the last 15 years to 20 years, there have been more and more cloudbursts, resulting in severe flash floods that destroy everything in their path with alarming regularity in Bhutan and then downriver in Assam. The floods of July 2016 in Saralbhanga river wiped out the entire Sarpang town in South Bhutan before unleashing havoc in Assam. Bhutanese experts have said that this is due to climate change and is in line with Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change reports.&rdquo;<br /><br />While the Bhutanese have responded by building mitigating structures and preparing their populations, the downstream communities along the border in India can only hope for timely information, seamless evacuation and minimum damage to their homes, cattle and crops.<br /><br />For this, the key elements of disaster risk reduction like risk knowledge, monitoring, analysis, warning generation, dissemination and communication of warning and preparedness for timely response have to work in sync.<br /><br />&ldquo;Getting timely early warning is not enough, the preparedness of the communities is important as well,&rdquo; said Raju Narzary of the North East Research &amp; Social Work Networking. &ldquo;Already the North East Research &amp; Social Work Networking has begun a hazard risk vulnerability assessment mapping of the river basin villages and identified volunteers in all villages to ensure that the early warnings from our friends in Bhutan reach the last mile families, even those who do not have access to WhatsApp or mobile phones.&rdquo;<br /><br />Aniram Basumatary, who does not own a motorcycle, but is saving up for one, said: &ldquo;Already this year, the WhatsApp warnings from Bhutan India Friendship Association to the last mile family has travelled within 10 minutes of being sent out. The delay was due to the fact that the last family ran out of phone batteries, so when we didn&rsquo;t see the ticks going blue, I borrowed a motorcycle to alert the family. Mobile phones are warning systems but you need motorcycle for sure, as there are always those without mobile phones.&rdquo;<br /><br /><em>Kokrajhar call for action<br /></em><br />Building on these relationships between the Bhutan India Friendship Association and the North East Research &amp; Social Work Networking, 14 civil society organisations from Bhutan and India, including the Bhutan Transparency Initiative and Aaranyak &ndash; a leading NGO in Assam &ndash; under the stewardship of Oxfam India&rsquo;s Transboundary Rivers of South Asia programme came together on June 20 and June 21 in Kokrajhar. These consultations were designed to strengthen people-to-people ties and help safeguard the rights of riparian communities upstream and downstream by supporting community-led cross-border ecosystem management and conservation practices.<br /><br />&ldquo;The biggest threat to peace is a lack of effective management of our water resources, especially along our borders,&rdquo; said Pankaj Anand, programme director of Oxfam India, during his inaugural address. &ldquo;Some of the poorest people live on transboundary waters of little known tributaries in remote parts of the Indo-Bhutan region, easily the most vulnerable to vagaries of climate change unfolding in these parts. Awareness, empathy, people-to-people networks supported by appropriate technologies, and timely and quality early warning information will go a long way in reducing risks to these communities.&rdquo;<br /><br />Kinzang Dorji, who served twice as Prime Minister of Bhutan, and is now the chairperson of the Bhutan Transparency Initiative said: &ldquo;Early warning is the moral responsibility of people living upstream towards people living downstream. What you are seeing in Kokrajhar district goes beyond the official friendly ties between Bhutan and India. In fact, this informal but friendly collaboration for early warning and sharing of our water resources between border communities of Bhutan and Assam is a model for peaceful relationships between countries at a time when peace around the world is threatened by the scarcity of water and climate change-induced disasters.&rdquo;<br /><br /><em>Shailendra Yashwant is a freelance journalist.</em><br /><br /><em>This report first appeared on <a href="https://www.thethirdpole.net/en/2019/07/04/community-communications-save-lives-in-assam/" title="https://www.thethirdpole.net/en/2019/07/04/community-communications-save-lives-in-assam/">The Third Pole</a>.</em><br /></div><div align="justify">&nbsp;</div><div align="justify">Scroll.in, 6 July, 2019, please <a href="https://scroll.in/article/929569/how-whatsapp-messages-from-bhutan-are-saving-lives-in-assam?fbclid=IwAR3GCreFt8xIvX-U0ZGGv6molGKuOXGa39vyKz1aNjd3mw0AQDJ2dxhABBo" title="https://scroll.in/article/929569/how-whatsapp-messages-from-bhutan-are-saving-lives-in-assam?fbclid=IwAR3GCreFt8xIvX-U0ZGGv6molGKuOXGa39vyKz1aNjd3mw0AQDJ2dxhABBo">click here</a> to access <br /></div>                                                           
                        </div>
                    </td>
                </tr>
            </table>
        </div>
    </div>
</div>
<div class="clear"></div>
    <br><a href="https://scroll.in/article/929569/how-whatsapp-messages-from-bhutan-are-saving-lives-in-assam?fbclid=IwAR3GCreFt8xIvX-U0ZGGv6molGKuOXGa39vyKz1aNjd3mw0AQDJ2dxhABBo" class="re" target="_blank">Scroll.in, 6 July, 2019, https://scroll.in/article/929569/how-whatsapp-messages-from-bhutan-are-saving-lives-in-assam?fbclid=IwAR3GCreFt8xIvX-U0ZGGv6molGKuOXGa39vyKz1aNjd3mw0AQDJ2dxhABBo</a><div class="clear"></div>
    <div style="padding-top: 18px;">
        <p class="post-tag">Tagged with:
                            <a class="tagcloud5"
                   href="https://im4change.in/search?qryStr=flash floods"
                   title="flash floods">
                    flash floods                </a>
                                <a class="tagcloud5"
                   href="https://im4change.in/search?qryStr=WhatsApp"
                   title="WhatsApp">
                    WhatsApp                </a>
                                <a class="tagcloud5"
                   href="https://im4change.in/search?qryStr=Early Warnings"
                   title="Early Warnings">
                    Early Warnings                </a>
                                <a class="tagcloud5"
                   href="https://im4change.in/search?qryStr=Flooding"
                   title="Flooding">
                    Flooding                </a>
                                <a class="tagcloud5"
                   href="https://im4change.in/search?qryStr=Community Social Media Networks"
                   title="Community Social Media Networks">
                    Community Social Media Networks                </a>
                        </p>
    </div>
<div class="clear"></div>
    <br><br>
    <div class="widget-top">
        <h4>Related Articles</h4>
        <div class="stripe-line"></div>
    </div>
    <div class="widget-container">
        <ul id="recentcomments">
                            <li class="recentcomments">
                    <a href="https://im4change.in/latest-news-updates/monsoon-takes-pause-in-august-after-july-deluge-el-nino-may-further-weaken-rains-rural-voice.html"
                       title="Monsoon takes pause in August after July deluge, El Nino may further weaken rains - Rural Voice">
                        Monsoon takes pause in August after July deluge, El Nino may further weaken rains - Rural Voice                    </a>
                </li>
                                <li class="recentcomments">
                    <a href="https://im4change.in/latest-news-updates/latest-christian-aid-report-identifies-top-10-climate-disasters-of-2022.html"
                       title="Latest Christian Aid report identifies top 10 climate disasters of 2022">
                        Latest Christian Aid report identifies top 10 climate disasters of 2022                    </a>
                </li>
                                <li class="recentcomments">
                    <a href="https://im4change.in/news-alerts-57/climate-induced-extreme-events-playing-havoc-with-the-economy-shows-latest-available-data.html"
                       title="Climate change induced extreme events are playing havoc with human lives & livelihoods, show latest available data">
                        Climate change induced extreme events are playing havoc with human lives & livelihoods, show latest available data                    </a>
                </li>
                                <li class="recentcomments">
                    <a href="https://im4change.in/latest-news-updates/extreme-weather-events-to-rise-manifold-in-india-due-to-climate-change-iit-gandhinagar-study.html"
                       title="Extreme Weather Events To Rise Manifold In India Due To Climate Change: IIT Gandhinagar Study">
                        Extreme Weather Events To Rise Manifold In India Due To Climate Change: IIT Gandhinagar Study                    </a>
                </li>
                                <li class="recentcomments">
                    <a href="https://im4change.in/latest-news-updates/assam-s-soil-erosion-worsening-with-climate-change-and-floods-gurvinder-singh.html"
                       title="Assam’s soil erosion worsening with climate change and floods -Gurvinder Singh">
                        Assam’s soil erosion worsening with climate change and floods -Gurvinder Singh                    </a>
                </li>
                
        </ul>
    </div>
    <div class="comment-respond" id="respond">
    <a name="commentbox">&nbsp;</a>
    <h3 class="comment-reply-title" id="reply-title">Write Comments</h3>
    <form method="post" accept-charset="utf-8" role="form" action="/technology/how-whatsapp-messages-from-bhutan-are-saving-lives-in-assam-shailendra-yashwant-4687529.html"><div style="display:none;"><input type="hidden" name="_method" value="POST"/></div>    <form class="comment-form" id="commentform" method="post" action="#commentbox" onSubmit="return validate()"
          name="cmtform">
        <input type="hidden" name="cmttype" value="articlecmt"/>
        <input type="hidden" name="article_id" value="39397"/>
        <p class="comment-notes">Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked <span
                    class="required">*</span></p>
                <p class="comment-form-author">
            <label for="commenterName">Name</label>
            <span class="required">*</span>
            <input type="text" aria-required="true" size="30"
                   value=""
                   name="commenterName" id="commenterName" required="true">
        </p>
        <p class="comment-form-email">
            <label for="commenterEmail">Email</label> <span class="required">*</span>
            <input aria-required="true" size="30" name="commenterEmail" id="commenterEmail" type="email"
                   value=""
                   required="true">
        </p>
        <p class="comment-form-contact">
            <label for="commenterPh">Contact No.</label>
            <input type="text" size="30"
                   value=""
                   name="commenterPh" id="commenterPh">
        </p>
        <p class="comment-form-comment">
            <label for="comment">Comment</label>
            <textarea aria-required="true" required="true" rows="8" cols="45" name="comment"
                      id="comment"></textarea>
        </p>
        <p class="comment-form-comment">
            <label for="comment">Type the characters you see in the image below <span class="required">*</span><br><img
                        class="captchaImg"
                        src="https://im4change.in/securimage_show_art.php?tk=1557049728" alt="captcha"/>
            </label>
        </p>
        <input type="text" name="vrcode" required="true"/>

        <p class="form-submit" style="width: 200px;">
            <input type="submit" value="Post Comment" id="submit" name="submit">
        </p></form>
</div>
<style>
    .ui-widget-content {
        height: auto !important;
    }
</style>
<div id="share-modal"></div>
<style>
    .middleContent a{
        background-color: rgba(108,172,228,.2);
    }
    .middleContent a:hover{
        background-color: #418fde;
        border-color: #418fde;
        color: #000;
        }
</style>
<script>
    function shareArticle(article_id) {
        var options = {
            modal: true,
            height: 'auto',
            width: 600 + 'px'
        };
        $('#share-modal').html("");
        $('#share-modal').load('https://im4change.in/share_article?article_id=' + article_id).dialog(options).dialog('open');
    }

    function postShare() {
        var param = 'article_id=' + $("#article_id").val();
        param = param + '&y_name=' + $("#y_name").val();
        param = param + '&y_email=' + $("#y_email").val();
        param = param + '&f_name=' + $("#f_name").val();
        param = param + '&f_email=' + $("#f_email").val();
        param = param + '&y_msg=' + $("#y_msg").val();

        $.ajax({
            type: "POST",
            url: 'https://im4change.in/post_share_article',
            data: param,
            success: function (response) {
                $('#share-modal').html("Thank You, Your message posted to ");
            }
        });
        return false;
    }
</script>                </div>
            </div>
            <!-- Right Side Section Start -->
<!-- MAP Section START -->
<aside class="sidebar indexMarg">
    <div class="ad-cell">
        <a href="https://im4change.in/statemap.php" title="">
            <img src="https://im4change.in/images/map_new_version.png?1582080666" alt="India State Map" class="indiamap" width="232" height="252"/>        </a>
        <div class="rightmapbox">
            <div id="sideOne" class="docltitle"><a href="https://im4change.in/state-report/india/36" target="_blank">DOCUMENTS/
                    REPORTS</a></div>
            <div id="sideTwo" class="statetitle"><a href="https://im4change.in/states.php"target="_blank">STATE DATA/
                    HDRs.</a></div>
        </div>
        <div class="widget widgePadTop"></div>
    </div>
</aside>
<!-- MAP Section END -->
<aside class="sidebar sidePadbottom">
    <div class="rightsmlbox1" >
        <a href="https://im4change.in/knowledge_gateway" target="_blank" style="color: #035588;
    font-size: 17px;">
            KNOWLEDGE GATEWAY
        </a>
    </div>
    <div class="rightsmlbox1">

        <div>
            <p class="rightsmlbox1_title">
                <a href="https://im4change.in/newsletter" target="_blank">
                    NEWSLETTER
                </a>
            </p>
        </div>
    </div>
        <div class="rightsmlbox1" style="height: 325px;">
        <div>
            <p class="rightsmlbox1_title">
                Interview with Prof. Ravi Srivastava
            </p>
            <p class="rightsmlbox1_title">
                <a href="https://im4change.in/video/interview-with-prof-ravi-srivastava-on-current-economic-crisis">
                <img width="250" height="200" src="/images/interview_video_home.jpg" alt="Interview with Prof. Ravi Srivastava"/>
                </a>
                <!--
                <iframe width="250" height="200" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/MmaTlntk-wc" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen=""></iframe>-->
               
            </p>
            <a href="https://im4change.in/videogallery" class="more-link CatArchalAnch1" target="_blank">
                                More videos
                            </a>
        </div>
    </div>
    
        <div class="rightsmlbox1">
        <div>
            <!--div id="sstory" class="rightboxicons"></div--->
            <p class="rightsmlbox1_title"><a href="https://im4change.in/list-success-stories"  target="_blank">Success Stories</a></p>
        </div>
    </div>
    <div class="rightsmlbox1">
        <div>
            <p class="rightsmlbox1_title"><a
                        href="https://im4change.in/interviews"  target="_blank">Interviews</a>
            </p>
        </div>
    </div>

    <div class="rightsmlbox1">
        <div>
            <p class="rightsmlbox1_title"><a href="https://www.commoncause.in/page.php?id=10" >Donate</a></p>
        </div>
    </div>
    <div class="rightsmlbox1">
        <div>
            <p class="rightsmlbox1_title"><a
        href="https://im4change.in/marquee"
        class="isf_link more-link" title="India Focus?" style="border: 4px solid #fdd922;width: 90%;background-color: #fdd922;text-align: center;color: #000000;font-size:18px"  target="_blank">India Focus</a></p>        </div>
    </div>

    <div class="rightsmlbox1" style="height: 104px !important;">
        <a href="https://im4change.in/quarterly_reports.php" target="_blank">
            Quarterly Reports on Effect of Economic Slowdown on Employment in India (2008 - 2015)
        </a>
    </div>
    
<!--     <div class="rightsmlbox1">
        <a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.im4.im4change" target="_blank">
            
        </a></div> -->
    <!-- <section class="cat-box recent-box secMarg">
        <h2 class="cat-box-title">Most Visited</h2>
    </section> -->
    <!-- accordion Starts here -->
    <!-- <div id="accordion" class="accordMarg">
            </div> -->
    <!-- accordion ends here -->
    <!-- Widget Tag Cloud Starts here -->
    <div id="tag_cloud-2" class="widget widget_tag_cloud">
        <section class="cat-box recent-box secMarg">
                <h2 class="cat-box-title">MOST VISITED TAGS</h2>
            </section>
        <div class="widget-top wiPdTp">
           
            <div class="stripe-line"></div>
        </div>
        <div class="widget-container">
            <div class="tagcloud">
                                    <a href="https://im4change.in/search?qryStr=Agriculture"
                       target="_blank" class="tag-link-4 font4">Agriculture</a>
                                        <a href="https://im4change.in/search?qryStr=Food Security"
                       target="_blank" class="tag-link-4 font4">Food Security</a>
                                        <a href="https://im4change.in/search?qryStr=Law and Justice"
                       target="_blank" class="tag-link-4 font4">Law and Justice</a>
                                        <a href="https://im4change.in/search?qryStr=Health"
                       target="_blank" class="tag-link-4 font4">Health</a>
                                        <a href="https://im4change.in/search?qryStr=Right to Food"
                       target="_blank" class="tag-link-4 font4">Right to Food</a>
                                        <a href="https://im4change.in/search?qryStr=Corruption"
                       target="_blank" class="tag-link-4 font4">Corruption</a>
                                        <a href="https://im4change.in/search?qryStr=farming"
                       target="_blank" class="tag-link-4 font4">farming</a>
                                        <a href="https://im4change.in/search?qryStr=Environment"
                       target="_blank" class="tag-link-4 font4">Environment</a>
                                        <a href="https://im4change.in/search?qryStr=Right to Information"
                       target="_blank" class="tag-link-4 font4">Right to Information</a>
                                        <a href="https://im4change.in/search?qryStr=NREGS"
                       target="_blank" class="tag-link-4 font4">NREGS</a>
                                        <a href="https://im4change.in/search?qryStr=Human Rights"
                       target="_blank" class="tag-link-4 font4">Human Rights</a>
                                        <a href="https://im4change.in/search?qryStr=Governance"
                       target="_blank" class="tag-link-4 font4">Governance</a>
                                        <a href="https://im4change.in/search?qryStr=PDS"
                       target="_blank" class="tag-link-4 font4">PDS</a>
                                        <a href="https://im4change.in/search?qryStr=COVID-19"
                       target="_blank" class="tag-link-4 font4">COVID-19</a>
                                        <a href="https://im4change.in/search?qryStr=Land Acquisition"
                       target="_blank" class="tag-link-4 font4">Land Acquisition</a>
                                        <a href="https://im4change.in/search?qryStr=mgnrega"
                       target="_blank" class="tag-link-4 font4">mgnrega</a>
                                        <a href="https://im4change.in/search?qryStr=Farmers"
                       target="_blank" class="tag-link-4 font4">Farmers</a>
                                        <a href="https://im4change.in/search?qryStr=transparency"
                       target="_blank" class="tag-link-4 font4">transparency</a>
                                        <a href="https://im4change.in/search?qryStr=Gender"
                       target="_blank" class="tag-link-4 font4">Gender</a>
                                        <a href="https://im4change.in/search?qryStr=Poverty"
                       target="_blank" class="tag-link-4 font4">Poverty</a>
                                    
                                <a href="https://im4change.in/search?qryStr=Farm Laws" target="_blank" class="tag-link-4 font4">Farm Laws
                </a>
                <a href="https://im4change.in/search?qryStr=Citizenship Amendment Act" target="_blank" class="tag-link-4 font4">Citizenship Amendment Act
                </a>
                <a href="https://im4change.in/search?qryStr=CAA NPR NRIC" target="_blank" class="tag-link-4 font4">CAA NPR NRIC
                </a>
                <a href="https://im4change.in/search?qryStr=Job Losses" target="_blank" class="tag-link-4 font4">Job Losses
                </a>
                <a href="https://im4change.in/search?qryStr=Migrant Workers" target="_blank" class="tag-link-4 font4">Migrant Workers
                </a>
                <a href="https://im4change.in/search?qryStr=Unemployment" target="_blank" class="tag-link-4 font4">Unemployment
                </a>
                <a href="https://im4change.in/search?qryStr=PMGKAY" target="_blank" class="tag-link-4 font4">PMGKAY
                </a>
                <a href="https://im4change.in/search?qryStr=PM-KISAN" target="_blank" class="tag-link-4 font4">PM-KISAN
                </a>
                <a href="https://im4change.in/search?qryStr=PM-CARES" target="_blank" class="tag-link-4 font4">PM-CARES
                </a>
                <a href="https://im4change.in/search?qryStr=LFPR" target="_blank" class="tag-link-4 font4">LFPR
                </a>
                
            </div>
        </div>
    </div>
    <!-- Widget Tag Cloud Ends here -->
</aside>
<!-- Right Side Section End -->
        </div>
        <section class="cat-box cats-review-box footerSec">
    <h2 class="cat-box-title vSec CatArcha">Video
        Archives</h2>
    <h2 class="cat-box-title CatArchaTitle">Archives</h2>
    <div class="cat-box-content">
        <div class="reviews-cat">
            <div class="CatArchaDiv1">
                <div class="CatArchaDiv2">
                    <ul>
                                                    <li>
                                <a href="https://im4change.in/news-alerts-57/moving-upstream-luni-fellowship.html"  target="_blank">
                                     Moving Upstream: Luni – Fellowship                                </a>
                            </li>
                                                        <li>
                                <a href="https://im4change.in/news-alerts-57/135-million-indians-exited-multidimensional-poverty-as-per-government-figures-is-that-the-same-as-poverty-reduction.html"  target="_blank">
                                     135 Million Indians Exited “Multidimensional" Poverty as per Government...                                </a>
                            </li>
                                                        <li>
                                <a href="https://im4change.in/news-alerts-57/explainer-why-are-tomato-prices-on-fire.html"  target="_blank">
                                     Explainer: Why are Tomato Prices on Fire?                                </a>
                            </li>
                                                        <li>
                                <a href="https://im4change.in/news-alerts-57/nsso-survey-only-39-1-of-all-households-have-drinking-water-within-dwelling-46-7-of-rural-households-use-firewood-for-cooking.html"  target="_blank">
                                     NSSO Survey: Only 39.1% of all Households have Drinking...                                </a>
                            </li>
                                                    <li class="CatArchalLi1">
                            <a href="https://im4change.in/news-alerts-57"
                               class="more-link CatArchalAnch1"  target="_blank">
                                More...
                            </a>
                        </li>
                    </ul>
                </div>
                                    <div class="CatArchaWidth">
                        <img class="CatArchaImg"
                             src="https://img.youtube.com/vi/I51LYnP8BOk/1.jpg"
                             alt=" Im4Change.org हिंदी वेबसाइट का परिचय. Short Video on im4change.org...">
                        <p class="CatArchaPPad">
                            <a href="https://im4change.in/video/Short-Video-on-im4change-Hindi-website-Inclusive-Media-for-Change"  target="_blank">
                                 Im4Change.org हिंदी वेबसाइट का परिचय. Short Video on im4change.org...                            </a>
                        </p>
                    </div>
                                        <div class="CatArchaWidth">
                        <img class="CatArchaImg"
                             src="https://img.youtube.com/vi/kNqha-SwfIY/1.jpg"
                             alt=" "Session 1: Scope of IDEA and AgriStack" in Exploring...">
                        <p class="CatArchaPPad">
                            <a href="https://im4change.in/video/Session-1- Scope-of-IDEA-and-AgriStack-in-Exploring-Digitalisation-in-Agriculture-29-April-2022"  target="_blank">
                                 "Session 1: Scope of IDEA and AgriStack" in Exploring...                            </a>
                        </p>
                    </div>
                                        <div class="CatArchaWidth">
                        <img class="CatArchaImg"
                             src="https://img.youtube.com/vi/6kIVjlgZItk/1.jpg"
                             alt=" "Session 2: Farmer Centric Digitalisation in Agriculture" in Exploring...">
                        <p class="CatArchaPPad">
                            <a href="https://im4change.in/video/Session-2-Farmer-Centric-Digitalisation-in-Agriculture-in-Exploring-Digitalisation-in-Agriculture-29-April-2022"  target="_blank">
                                 "Session 2: Farmer Centric Digitalisation in Agriculture" in Exploring...                            </a>
                        </p>
                    </div>
                                        <div class="CatArchaWidth">
                        <img class="CatArchaImg"
                             src="https://img.youtube.com/vi/2BeHTu0y7xc/1.jpg"
                             alt=" "Session 3: Future of Digitalisation in Agriculture" in Exploring...">
                        <p class="CatArchaPPad">
                            <a href="https://im4change.in/video/Session-3-Future-of-Digitalisation-in-Agriculture-in-Exploring-Digitalisation-in-Agriculture-29-April-2022"  target="_blank">
                                 "Session 3: Future of Digitalisation in Agriculture" in Exploring...                            </a>
                        </p>
                    </div>
                    


                <div class="divWidth">
                    <ul class="divWidthMarg">
                                                    <li>
                                <a href="https://im4change.in/video/Public-Spending-on-Agriculture-in-India-Source-Foundation-for-Agrarian-Studies"
                                   title="Public Spending on Agriculture in India (Source: Foundation for Agrarian Studies)"  target="_blank">
                                     Public Spending on Agriculture in India (Source: Foundation for...</a>
                            </li>
                                                        <li>
                                <a href="https://im4change.in/video/Agrarian-Change-Seminar-Protests-against-the-New-Farm-Laws-in-India-by-Prof-Vikas-Rawal-JNU-Source-Journal-Of-Agrarian-Change"
                                   title="Agrarian Change Seminar: 'Protests against the New Farm Laws in India' by Prof. Vikas Rawal, JNU (Source: Journal Of Agrarian Change) "  target="_blank">
                                     Agrarian Change Seminar: 'Protests against the New Farm Laws...</a>
                            </li>
                                                        <li>
                                <a href="https://im4change.in/video/Webinar-Ramrao-The-Story-of-India-Farm-Crisis-Source-Azim-Premji-University"
                                   title="Webinar: Ramrao - The Story of India's Farm Crisis (Source: Azim Premji University)"  target="_blank">
                                     Webinar: Ramrao - The Story of India's Farm Crisis...</a>
                            </li>
                                                        <li>
                                <a href="https://im4change.in/video/water-and-agricultural-transformation-in-India"
                                   title="Water and Agricultural Transformation in India: A Symbiotic Relationship (Source: IGIDR)"  target="_blank">
                                     Water and Agricultural Transformation in India: A Symbiotic Relationship...</a>
                            </li>
                                                    <li class="CatArchalLi1">
                            <a href="https://im4change.in/videogallery"
                               class="more-link CatArchalAnch1"  target="_blank">
                                More...
                            </a>
                        </li>
                    </ul>
                </div>
            </div>
        </div>
    </div>
</section>    </div>
    <div class="clear"></div>
    <!-- Footer option Starts here -->
    <div class="footer-bottom fade-in animated4">
        <div class="container">
            <div class="social-icons icon_flat">
                <p class="SocialMargTop"> Website Developed by <a target="_blank" title="Web Development"
                                                                  class="wot right"
                                                                  href="http://www.ravinderkhurana.com/" rel="nofollow">
                                                                  RAVINDErkHURANA.com</a></p>
            </div>
            <div class="alignleft">
                <a
     target="_blank" href="https://im4change.in/objectives-8.html"
    class="link"
    title="Objectives">Objectives</a> | <a
     target="_blank" href="https://im4change.in/about-us-9.html"
    class="link" title="About Us">About Us</a> | <a
     target="_blank" href="https://im4change.in/media-workshops.php"
    class="ucwords">Workshops</a> | <a
     target="_blank" href="https://im4change.in/disclaimer/disclaimer-149.html"
    title="Disclaimer">Disclaimer</a>            </div>
        </div>
    </div>
    <!-- Footer option ends here -->
</div>
<div id="connect">
    <a target="_blank"
       href="http://www.facebook.com/sharer.php?u=https://im4change.in/technology/how-whatsapp-messages-from-bhutan-are-saving-lives-in-assam-shailendra-yashwant-4687529.html"
       title="Share on Facebook">
        <img src="https://im4change.in/images/Facebook.png?1582080640" alt="share on Facebook" class="ImgBorder"/>
    </a><br/>
    <a target="_blank"
       href="http://twitter.com/share?text=Im4change&amp;url=https://im4change.in/technology/how-whatsapp-messages-from-bhutan-are-saving-lives-in-assam-shailendra-yashwant-4687529.html"
       title="Share on Twitter">
        <img src="https://im4change.in/images/twitter.png?1582080632" alt="Twitter" class="ImgBorder"/>    </a>
    <br/>
    <a href="/feeds" title="RSS Feed" target="_blank">
        <img src="https://im4change.in/images/rss.png?1582080632" alt="RSS" class="ImgBorder"/>
    </a>
    <br/>
    <a class="feedback-link" id="feedbackFormLink" href="#">
        <img src="https://im4change.in/images/feedback.png?1582080630" alt="Feedback" class="ImgBorder"/>
    </a> <br/>
    <a href="javascript:function iprl5(){var d=document,z=d.createElement('scr'+'ipt'),b=d.body,l=d.location;try{if(!b)throw(0);d.title='(Saving...) '+d.title;z.setAttribute('src',l.protocol+'//www.instapaper.com/j/WKrH3R7ORD5p?u='+encodeURIComponent(l.href)+'&amp;t='+(new Date().getTime()));b.appendChild(z);}catch(e){alert('Please wait until the page has loaded.');}}iprl5();void(0)"
       class="bookmarklet" onclick="return explain_bookmarklet();">
        <img src="https://im4change.in/images/read-it-later.png?1582080632" alt="Read Later" class="ImgBorder"/>    </a>
</div>
<!-- Feedback form Starts here -->
<div id="feedbackForm" class="overlay_form" class="ImgBorder">
    <h2>Contact Form</h2>
    <div id="contactform1">
        <div id="formleft">
            <form id="submitform" action="/contactus.php" method="post">
                <input type="hidden" name="submitform" value="submitform"/>
                <input type="hidden" name="salt_key" value="a0e0f2c6a0644a70e57ad2c96829709a"/>
                <input type="hidden" name="ref" value="feedback"/>
                <fieldset>
                    <label>Name :</label>
                    <input type="text" name="name" class="tbox" required/>
                </fieldset>
                <fieldset>
                    <label>Email :</label>
                    <input type="text" name="email" class="tbox" required/>
                </fieldset>
                <fieldset>
                    <label>Message :</label>
                    <textarea rows="5" cols="20" name="message" required></textarea>
                </fieldset>
                <fieldset>
                    Please enter security code
                    <div class="clear"></div>
                    <input type="text" name="vrcode" class="tbox"/>
                </fieldset>
                <fieldset>
                    <input type="submit" class="button" value="Submit"/>
                    &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; <a href="#" id="closefeedbakcformLink">Close</a>
                </fieldset>
            </form>
        </div>
        <div class="clearfix"></div>
    </div>
</div>
<div id="donate_popup" class="modal" style="max-width: 800px;">
    <table width="100%" border="1">
        <tr>
            <td colspan="2" align="center">
                <b>Support im4change</b>
            </td>
        </tr>
        <tr>
            <td width="25%" valign="middle">
                <img src="https://im4change.in/images/logo2.jpg?1582080632" alt="" width="100%"/>            </td>
            <td style="padding-left:10px;padding-top:10px;">
                <form action="https://im4change.in/donate" method="get">
                    <table width="100%" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="2">
                        <tr>
                            <td width="33%" style="font-family: 'Script Font', cursive, Arial;font-size: 20px;font-weight: 700;">
                                10
                            </td>
                            <td width="33%" style="font-family: 'Script Font', cursive, Arial;font-size: 20px;font-weight: 700;">
                                100
                            </td>
                            <td width="33%" style="font-family: 'Script Font', cursive, Arial;font-size: 20px;font-weight: 700;">
                                1000
                            </td>
                        </tr>
                        <tr>
                            <td colspan="3">
                                &nbsp;
                            </td>
                        </tr>
                        <tr>
                            <td  style="font-family: 'Script Font', cursive, Arial;font-size: 20px;font-weight: 700;">
                                50
                            </td>
                            <td  style="font-family: 'Script Font', cursive, Arial;font-size: 20px;font-weight: 700;">
                                500
                            </td>
                            <td  style="font-family: 'Script Font', cursive, Arial;font-size: 20px;font-weight: 700;">
                                <input type="text" name="price" placeholder="?" style="font-family: 'Script Font', cursive, Arial;font-size: 20px;font-weight: 700;">
                            </td>
                        </tr>
                        <tr>
                            <td colspan="3">
                                &nbsp;
                            </td>
                        </tr>
                        <tr>
                            <td colspan="3" align="right">
                                <input type="button" name="Pay" value="Pay"
                                       style="width: 200px;background-color: rgb(205, 35, 36);color: #ffffff;"/>
                            </td>
                        </tr>
                    </table>
                </form>
            </td>
        </tr>
    </table>
</div><script type='text/javascript'>

    /* <![CDATA[ */

    var tievar = {'go_to': 'Go to...'};

    /* ]]> */

</script>
<script src="/js/tie-scripts.js?1575549704"></script><script src="/js/bootstrap.js?1575549704"></script><script src="/js/jquery.modal.min.js?1578284310"></script><script>
    $(document).ready(function() {
        // tell the autocomplete function to get its data from our php script
        $('#s').autocomplete({
            source: "/autocomplete"
        });
    });
</script>
<script src="/vj-main-sw-register.js" async></script>

<script>function init(){var imgDefer=document.getElementsByTagName('img');for(var i=0;i<imgDefer.length;i++){if(imgDefer[i].getAttribute('data-src')){imgDefer[i].setAttribute('src',imgDefer[i].getAttribute('data-src'))}}}
window.onload=init;</script>
</body>
</html>'

}
$reasonPhrase = 'OK'
header - [internal], line ??
Cake\Http\ResponseEmitter::emitStatusLine() - CORE/src/Http/ResponseEmitter.php, line 148
Cake\Http\ResponseEmitter::emit() - CORE/src/Http/ResponseEmitter.php, line 54
Cake\Http\Server::emit() - CORE/src/Http/Server.php, line 141
[main] - ROOT/webroot/index.php, line 39

Warning (2): Cannot modify header information - headers already sent by (output started at /home/brlfuser/public_html/vendor/cakephp/cakephp/src/Error/Debugger.php:853) [CORE/src/Http/ResponseEmitter.php, line 181]
Code Context
                    $value

                ), $first);

                $first = false;
$response = object(Cake\Http\Response) {

	'status' => (int) 200,
	'contentType' => 'text/html',
	'headers' => [
		'Content-Type' => [
			[maximum depth reached]
		]
	],
	'file' => null,
	'fileRange' => [],
	'cookies' => object(Cake\Http\Cookie\CookieCollection) {},
	'cacheDirectives' => [],
	'body' => '<!DOCTYPE html>
<!--[if lt IE 7 ]>
<html class="ie ie6" lang='en'> <![endif]-->
<!--[if IE 7 ]>
<html class="ie ie7" lang='en'> <![endif]-->
<!--[if IE 8 ]>
<html class="ie ie8" lang='en'> <![endif]-->
<!--[if (gte IE 9)|!(IE)]><!-->
<html lang='en'>
<!--<![endif]-->
<head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8">
    
    <title>
        Technology | How WhatsApp messages from Bhutan are saving lives in Assam -Shailendra Yashwant    </title>
    <meta name="description" content="
-Scroll.in/ The Third Pole

Flash-flood warnings routed through NGOs are giving border villages precious lead-time to escape the wrath of suddenly rising rivers.

In the last few weeks of June, a series of WhatsApp messages were sent from Bhutan to India to..."/>
    <meta name="keywords" content="flash floods,WhatsApp,Early Warnings,Flooding,Community Social Media Networks"/>
    <meta name="news_keywords" content="flash floods,WhatsApp,Early Warnings,Flooding,Community Social Media Networks">
   
    <link rel="alternate" type="application/rss+xml" title="ROR" href="/ror.xml"/>
    <link rel="alternate" type="application/rss+xml" title="RSS 2.0" href="/feeds/"/>
    <link rel="stylesheet" href="/css/bootstrap.min.css?1697864993"/>    <link rel="stylesheet" href="/css/style.css?v=1.1.2"/>    <link rel="stylesheet" href="/css/style-inner.css?1577045210"/>    <link rel="stylesheet" id="Oswald-css"
          href="https://fonts.googleapis.com/css?family=Oswald%3Aregular%2C700&amp;ver=3.8.1" type="text/css"
          media="all">
    <link rel="stylesheet" href="/css/jquery.modal.min.css?1578285302"/>    <script src="/js/jquery-1.10.2.js?1575549704"></script>    <script src="/js/jquery-migrate.min.js?1575549704"></script>    <link rel="shortcut icon" href="/favicon.ico" title="Favicon">
    <link rel="stylesheet" href="/css/jquery-ui.css?1580720609"/>    <script src="/js/jquery-ui.js?1575549704"></script>    <link rel="preload" as="style" href="https://www.im4change.org/css/custom.css" onload="this.rel='stylesheet'" media="all" crossorigin="anonymous">
<link rel="preload" as="style" href="https://www.im4change.org/css/jquery.modal.min.css" onload="this.rel='stylesheet'" media="all" crossorigin="anonymous">
<link rel="preload" as="style" href="https://www.im4change.org/css/jquery-ui.css" onload="this.rel='stylesheet'" media="all" crossorigin="anonymous">
<link rel="preload" as="style" href="https://www.im4change.org/css/li-scroller.css" onload="this.rel='stylesheet'" media="all" crossorigin="anonymous">
<!-- <link rel="preload" as="style" href="https://www.im4change.org/css/style.css" onload="this.rel='stylesheet'" media="all" crossorigin="anonymous"> -->
<link rel="preload" as="style" href="https://www.im4change.org/css/style-inner.css" onload="this.rel='stylesheet'" media="all" crossorigin="anonymous">

<link rel='dns-prefetch' href="//im4change.org/css/custom.css" crossorigin >

<link rel="preload" as="script" href="https://www.im4change.org/js/bootstrap.js">
<link rel="preload" as="script" href="https://www.im4change.org/js/jquery.li-scroller.1.0.js">
<link rel="preload" as="script" href="https://www.im4change.org/js/jquery.modal.min.js">
<link rel="preload" as="script" href="https://www.im4change.org/js/jquery.ui.totop.js">
<link rel="preload" as="script" href="https://www.im4change.org/js/jquery-1.10.2.js">
<link rel="preload" as="script" href="https://www.im4change.org/js/jquery-migrate.min.js">
<link rel="preload" as="script" href="https://www.im4change.org/js/jquery-ui.js">
<link rel="preload" as="script" href="https://www.im4change.org/js/setting.js">
<link rel="preload" as="script" href="https://www.im4change.org/js/tie-scripts.js">
    <!--[if IE]>
    <script type="text/javascript">jQuery(document).ready(function () {
        jQuery(".menu-item").has("ul").children("a").attr("aria-haspopup", "true");
    });</script>
    <![endif]-->
    <!--[if lt IE 9]>
    <script src="/js/html5.js"></script>
    <script src="/js/selectivizr-min.js"></script>
    <![endif]-->
    <!--[if IE 8]>
    <link rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" media="all" href="/css/ie8.css"/>
    <![endif]-->
    <meta property="og:title" content="Technology | How WhatsApp messages from Bhutan are saving lives in Assam -Shailendra Yashwant" />
     <meta property="og:url" content="https://im4change.in/technology/how-whatsapp-messages-from-bhutan-are-saving-lives-in-assam-shailendra-yashwant-4687529.html" />
     <meta property="og:type" content="article" />
     <meta property="og:description" content="
-Scroll.in/ The Third Pole

Flash-flood warnings routed through NGOs are giving border villages precious lead-time to escape the wrath of suddenly rising rivers.

In the last few weeks of June, a series of WhatsApp messages were sent from Bhutan to India to..." />
     <meta property="og:image" content="" />
      <meta property="fb:app_id" content="0" />
    <meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1, maximum-scale=1, user-scalable=no">

       <link rel="apple-touch-icon-precomposed" sizes="144x144" href="https://im4change.in/images/apple1.png">
    <link rel="apple-touch-icon-precomposed" sizes="120x120" href="https://im4change.in/images/apple2.png">
    <link rel="apple-touch-icon-precomposed" sizes="72x72" href="https://im4change.in/images/apple3.png">
    <link rel="apple-touch-icon-precomposed" href="https://im4change.in/images/apple4.png">

    <style>
    .gsc-results-wrapper-overlay{
        top: 38% !important;
        height: 50% !important;
    }
    .gsc-search-button-v2{
        border-color: #035588 !important;
        background-color: #035588 !important;
    }

   .gsib_a{
        height: 30px !important;
          padding: 2px 8px 1px 6px !important;
    }

   
    .gsc-search-button-v2{
        height: 41px !important;
    }
    input.gsc-input{
        background: none !important;
    }
    @media only screen and (max-width: 600px) {
        .gsc-results-wrapper-overlay{
            top: 11% !important;
            width: 87% !important;
            left: 9% !important;
            height: 43% !important;
        }

        .gsc-search-button-v2{
            padding: 10px 10px !important;
        
        }
        .gsc-input-box{
            height: 28px !important;
        }
       /* .gsib_a {
            padding: 0px 9px 4px 9px !important;
        }*/
    }
    @media only screen and (min-width: 1200px) and (max-width: 1920px) {
        table.gsc-search-box{
            width: 15% !important;
            float: right !important;
            margin-top: -118px !important;
        }

        .gsc-search-button-v2 {
            
            padding: 6px !important;
           
        }
    }


</style>

    <script>
        $(function () {
            $("#accordion").accordion({
                event: "click hoverintent"
            });
        });

        /*
         * hoverIntent | Copyright 2011 Brian Cherne
         * http://cherne.net/brian/resources/jquery.hoverIntent.html
         * modified by the jQuery UI team
         */
        $.event.special.hoverintent = {
            setup: function () {
                $(this).bind("mouseover", jQuery.event.special.hoverintent.handler);
            },
            teardown: function () {
                $(this).unbind("mouseover", jQuery.event.special.hoverintent.handler);
            },
            handler: function (event) {
                var currentX, currentY, timeout,
                    args = arguments,
                    target = $(event.target),
                    previousX = event.pageX,
                    previousY = event.pageY;

                function track(event) {
                    currentX = event.pageX;
                    currentY = event.pageY;
                }
                ;

                function clear() {
                    target
                        .unbind("mousemove", track)
                        .unbind("mouseout", clear);
                    clearTimeout(timeout);
                }

                function handler() {
                    var prop,
                        orig = event;
                    if ((Math.abs(previousX - currentX) +
                        Math.abs(previousY - currentY)) < 7) {
                        clear();
                        event = $.Event("hoverintent");
                        for (prop in orig) {
                            if (!(prop in event)) {
                                event[prop] = orig[prop];
                            }
                        }
                        // Prevent accessing the original event since the new event
                        // is fired asynchronously and the old event is no longer
                        // usable (#6028)
                        delete event.originalEvent;
                        target.trigger(event);
                    } else {
                        previousX = currentX;
                        previousY = currentY;
                        timeout = setTimeout(handler, 100);
                    }
                }

                timeout = setTimeout(handler, 100);
                target.bind({
                    mousemove: track,
                    mouseout: clear
                });
            }
        };
    </script>
    <script type="text/javascript">
        var _gaq = _gaq || [];
        _gaq.push(['_setAccount', 'UA-472075-3']);
        _gaq.push(['_trackPageview']);

        (function () {
            var ga = document.createElement('script');
            ga.type = 'text/javascript';
            ga.async = true;
            ga.src = ('https:' == document.location.protocol ? 'https://ssl' : 'http://www') + '.google-analytics.com/ga.js';
            var s = document.getElementsByTagName('script')[0];
            s.parentNode.insertBefore(ga, s);
        })();
    </script>
    <link rel="stylesheet" href="/css/custom.css?v=1.16"/>    <script src="/js/jquery.ui.totop.js?1575549704"></script>    <script src="/js/setting.js?1575549704"></script>    <link rel="manifest" href="/manifest.json">
    <meta name="theme-color" content="#616163" />
    <meta name="apple-mobile-web-app-capable" content="yes">
    <meta name="apple-mobile-web-app-status-bar-style" content="black">
    <meta name="apple-mobile-web-app-title" content="im4change">
    <link rel="apple-touch-icon" href="/icons/logo-192x192.png">
</head>
<body id="top" class="home inner blog">
<div class="background-cover"></div>
<div class="wrapper animated">
    <header id="theme-header" class="header_inner" style="position: relative;">
        <div class="logo inner_logo" style="left:20px !important">
                <a title="Home" href="https://im4change.in/">
                    <img src="https://im4change.in/images/logo2.jpg?1582080632" class="logo_image" alt="im4change"/>                </a>
        </div>
        <div class="langhindi" style="color: #000;display:none;"
             href="https://im4change.in/">
            <a class="more-link" href="https://im4change.in/">Home</a>
                        <a href="https://im4change.in/hindi/" class="langbutton ">हिन्दी</a>
                    </div>
        <nav class="fade-in animated2" id="main-nav">
            <div class="container">
                <div class="main-menu">
    <ul class="menu" id="menu-main">
        <li class="menu-item  menu-item-type-custom  menu-item-object-custom  menu-item-has-children"
            style="left: -40px;"><a
                 target="_blank" href="https://im4change.in/">Home</a>
        </li>
        <li class="menu-item mega-menu menu-item-type-taxonomy mega-menu menu-item-object-category mega-menu menu-item-has-children parent-list"
            style=" margin-left: -40px;"><a href="#">KNOWLEDGE GATEWAY <span class="sub-indicator"></span>
            </a>
            <div class="mega-menu-block background_menu" style="padding-top:25px;">
                <div class="container">
                    <div class="mega-menu-content">
                                                                   <div class="mega-menu-item">
                                                 <h3><b>Farm Crisis</b></h3>
                                                                                                    <p style="padding-left:5px;">
                                                    <a  target="_blank" href="https://im4change.in/farm-crisis/farmers039-suicides-14.html"
                                                       class="left postionrel">Farm Suicides                                                       </a>
                                                </p>
                                                                                                        <p style="padding-left:5px;">
                                                    <a  target="_blank" href="https://im4change.in/farm-crisis/unemployment-30.html"
                                                       class="left postionrel">Unemployment                                                       </a>
                                                </p>
                                                                                                        <p style="padding-left:5px;">
                                                    <a  target="_blank" href="https://im4change.in/farm-crisis/rural-distress-70.html"
                                                       class="left postionrel">Rural distress                                                       </a>
                                                </p>
                                                                                                        <p style="padding-left:5px;">
                                                    <a  target="_blank" href="https://im4change.in/farm-crisis/migration-34.html"
                                                       class="left postionrel">Migration                                                       </a>
                                                </p>
                                                                                                        <p style="padding-left:5px;">
                                                    <a  target="_blank" href="https://im4change.in/farm-crisis/key-facts-72.html"
                                                       class="left postionrel">Key Facts                                                       </a>
                                                </p>
                                                                                                        <p style="padding-left:5px;">
                                                    <a  target="_blank" href="https://im4change.in/farm-crisis/debt-trap-15.html"
                                                       class="left postionrel">Debt Trap                                                       </a>
                                                </p>
                                                                                                
                                              </div> 
                                            
                                                                                        <div class="mega-menu-item">
                                                 <h3><b>Empowerment</b></h3>
                                                                                                    <p style="padding-left:5px;">
                                                    <a  target="_blank" href="https://im4change.in/empowerment/union-budget-73.html"
                                                       class="left postionrel">Union Budget And Other Economic Policies                                                       </a>
                                                </p>
                                                                                                        <p style="padding-left:5px;">
                                                    <a  target="_blank" href="https://im4change.in/empowerment/forest-and-tribal-rights-61.html"
                                                       class="left postionrel">Forest and Tribal Rights                                                       </a>
                                                </p>
                                                                                                        <p style="padding-left:5px;">
                                                    <a  target="_blank" href="https://im4change.in/empowerment/right-to-education-60.html"
                                                       class="left postionrel">Right to Education                                                       </a>
                                                </p>
                                                                                                        <p style="padding-left:5px;">
                                                    <a  target="_blank" href="https://im4change.in/empowerment/right-to-food-59.html"
                                                       class="left postionrel">Right to Food                                                       </a>
                                                </p>
                                                                                                        <p style="padding-left:5px;">
                                                    <a  target="_blank" href="https://im4change.in/empowerment/displacement-3279.html"
                                                       class="left postionrel">Displacement                                                       </a>
                                                </p>
                                                                                                        <p style="padding-left:5px;">
                                                    <a  target="_blank" href="https://im4change.in/empowerment/right-to-work-mg-nrega-39.html"
                                                       class="left postionrel">Right to Work (MG-NREGA)                                                       </a>
                                                </p>
                                                                                                        <p style="padding-left:5px;">
                                                    <a  target="_blank" href="https://im4change.in/empowerment/gender-3280.html"
                                                       class="left postionrel">GENDER                                                       </a>
                                                </p>
                                                                                                        <p style="padding-left:5px;">
                                                    <a  target="_blank" href="https://im4change.in/empowerment/right-to-information-58.html"
                                                       class="left postionrel">Right to Information                                                       </a>
                                                </p>
                                                                                                        <p style="padding-left:5px;">
                                                    <a  target="_blank" href="https://im4change.in/empowerment/social-audit-48.html"
                                                       class="left postionrel">Social Audit                                                       </a>
                                                </p>
                                                                                                
                                              </div> 
                                            
                                                                                        <div class="mega-menu-item">
                                                 <h3><b>Hunger / HDI</b></h3>
                                                                                                    <p style="padding-left:5px;">
                                                    <a  target="_blank" href="https://im4change.in/hunger-hdi/poverty-and-inequality-20499.html"
                                                       class="left postionrel">Poverty and inequality                                                       </a>
                                                </p>
                                                                                                        <p style="padding-left:5px;">
                                                    <a  target="_blank" href="https://im4change.in/hunger-hdi/malnutrition-41.html"
                                                       class="left postionrel">Malnutrition                                                       </a>
                                                </p>
                                                                                                        <p style="padding-left:5px;">
                                                    <a  target="_blank" href="https://im4change.in/hunger-hdi/public-health-51.html"
                                                       class="left postionrel">Public Health                                                       </a>
                                                </p>
                                                                                                        <p style="padding-left:5px;">
                                                    <a  target="_blank" href="https://im4change.in/hunger-hdi/education-50.html"
                                                       class="left postionrel">Education                                                       </a>
                                                </p>
                                                                                                        <p style="padding-left:5px;">
                                                    <a  target="_blank" href="https://im4change.in/hunger-hdi/hunger-overview-40.html"
                                                       class="left postionrel">Hunger Overview                                                       </a>
                                                </p>
                                                                                                        <p style="padding-left:5px;">
                                                    <a  target="_blank" href="https://im4change.in/hunger-hdi/hdi-overview-45.html"
                                                       class="left postionrel">HDI Overview                                                       </a>
                                                </p>
                                                                                                        <p style="padding-left:5px;">
                                                    <a  target="_blank" href="https://im4change.in/hunger-hdi/pds-ration-food-security-42.html"
                                                       class="left postionrel">PDS/ Ration/ Food Security                                                       </a>
                                                </p>
                                                                                                        <p style="padding-left:5px;">
                                                    <a  target="_blank" href="https://im4change.in/hunger-hdi/sdgs-113.html"
                                                       class="left postionrel">SDGs                                                       </a>
                                                </p>
                                                                                                        <p style="padding-left:5px;">
                                                    <a  target="_blank" href="https://im4change.in/hunger-hdi/mid-day-meal-scheme-mdms-53.html"
                                                       class="left postionrel">Mid Day Meal Scheme (MDMS)                                                       </a>
                                                </p>
                                                                                                
                                              </div> 
                                            
                                                                                        <div class="mega-menu-item">
                                                 <h3><b>Environment</b></h3>
                                                                                                    <p style="padding-left:5px;">
                                                    <a  target="_blank" href="https://im4change.in/environment/time-bomb-ticking-52.html"
                                                       class="left postionrel">Time Bomb Ticking                                                       </a>
                                                </p>
                                                                                                        <p style="padding-left:5px;">
                                                    <a  target="_blank" href="https://im4change.in/environment/water-and-sanitation-55.html"
                                                       class="left postionrel">Water and Sanitation                                                       </a>
                                                </p>
                                                                                                        <p style="padding-left:5px;">
                                                    <a  target="_blank" href="https://im4change.in/environment/impact-on-agriculture-54.html"
                                                       class="left postionrel">Impact on Agriculture                                                       </a>
                                                </p>
                                                                                                
                                              </div> 
                                            
                                                                                        <div class="mega-menu-item">
                                                 <h3><b>Law & Justice</b></h3>
                                                                                                    <p style="padding-left:5px;">
                                                    <a  target="_blank" href="https://im4change.in/law-justice/social-justice-20500.html"
                                                       class="left postionrel">Social Justice                                                       </a>
                                                </p>
                                                                                                        <p style="padding-left:5px;">
                                                    <a  target="_blank" href="https://im4change.in/law-justice/access-to-justice-47.html"
                                                       class="left postionrel">Access to Justice                                                       </a>
                                                </p>
                                                                                                        <p style="padding-left:5px;">
                                                    <a  target="_blank" href="https://im4change.in/law-justice/human-rights-56.html"
                                                       class="left postionrel">Human Rights                                                       </a>
                                                </p>
                                                                                                        <p style="padding-left:5px;">
                                                    <a  target="_blank" href="https://im4change.in/law-justice/corruption-35.html"
                                                       class="left postionrel">Corruption                                                       </a>
                                                </p>
                                                                                                        <p style="padding-left:5px;">
                                                    <a  target="_blank" href="https://im4change.in/law-justice/general-insecurity-46.html"
                                                       class="left postionrel">General Insecurity                                                       </a>
                                                </p>
                                                                                                        <p style="padding-left:5px;">
                                                    <a  target="_blank" href="https://im4change.in/law-justice/disaster-relief-49.html"
                                                       class="left postionrel">Disaster &amp; Relief                                                       </a>
                                                </p>
                                                                                                
                                              </div> 
                                            
                                                                                        
                    </div>
                </div>
            </div>
        </li>
        <li class="menu-item  menu-item-type-post_type  menu-item-object-page "><a  target="_blank" href="https://im4change.in/nceus_reports.php">NCEUS reports</a>
            
        </li>
        <li class="menu-item  menu-item-type-custom  menu-item-object-custom  menu-item-has-children parent-list ">
            <a  target="_blank" href="https://im4change.in/about-us-9.html">About Us <span
                    class="sub-indicator"></span></a>
            <ul class="sub-menu aboutmenu">
                <li class="menu-item  menu-item-type-post_type  menu-item-object-page"><a
                        target="_blank" href="https://im4change.in/objectives-8.html">Objectives</a>
                </li>
                <li class="menu-item  menu-item-type-post_type  menu-item-object-page"><a
                         target="_blank" href="https://im4change.in/contactus.php">Contact
                        Us</a></li>
                <li class="menu-item  menu-item-type-post_type  menu-item-object-page"><a
                         target="_blank" href="https://im4change.in/about-us-9.html">About
                        Us</a></li>
            </ul>
        </li>
        <li class="menu-item  menu-item-type-custom  menu-item-object-custom  menu-item-has-children ">
            <a  target="_blank" href="https://im4change.in/fellowships.php" title="Fellowships">Fellowships</a>
        </li>
        <li class="menu-item  menu-item-type-custom  menu-item-object-custom  menu-item-has-children  "><a
                 target="_blank" href="https://im4change.in/media-workshops.php">Workshops</a>
        </li>
        <li class="menu-item  menu-item-type-custom  menu-item-object-custom  menu-item-has-children  "><a
                 target="_blank" href="https://im4change.in/research.php">Research</a></li>
        <li class="menu-item  menu-item-type-custom  menu-item-object-custom  menu-item-has-children   "><a
                 target="_blank" href="https://im4change.in/links-64">Partners</a></li>
        <li class="menu-item  menu-item-type-custom  menu-item-object-custom  menu-item-has-children"
            id="menu-item-539"><a  target="_blank" href="https://im4change.in/hindi/"
                                  class="langbutton langlinkfont17">हिन्दी</a></li>
    </ul>
</div>            </div>


                        <!--  <div style="float: right;">
                            <script async src="https://cse.google.com/cse.js?cx=18b4f2e0f11bed3dd"></script>
                            <div class="gcse-search"></div>
                        </div> -->
                       
            <div class="search-block" style=" margin-left: 8px; margin-right: 7px;">
                <form method="get" id="searchform" name="searchform"
                      action="https://im4change.in/search"
                      onsubmit="return searchvalidate();">
                    <button class="search-button" type="submit" value="Search"></button>
                    <input type="text" id="s" name="qryStr" value=""
                           onfocus="if (this.value == 'Search...') {this.value = '';}"
                           onblur="if (this.value == '') {this.value = 'Search...';}">
                </form>
            </div>
        </nav>
    </header>
    <div class="container">
        <div id="main-content" class=" main1 container fade-in animated3 sidebar-narrow-left">
            <div class="content-wrap">
                <div class="content" style="width: 900px;min-height: 500px;">
                    <section class="cat-box recent-box innerCatRecent">
    <h1 class="cat-box-title">How WhatsApp messages from Bhutan are saving lives in Assam -Shailendra Yashwant</h1>
    <a href="JavaScript:void(0);" onclick="return shareArticle(39397);">
        <img src="https://im4change.in/images/email.png?1582080630" border="0" width="24" align="right" alt="Share this article"/>    </a>

    <a href="https://im4change.in/technology/how-whatsapp-messages-from-bhutan-are-saving-lives-in-assam-shailendra-yashwant-4687529/print"
       rel="nofollow">
        <img src="https://im4change.in/images/icon-print.png?1582080630" border="0" width="24" align="right" alt="Share this article"/>
    </a>
</section>
<section class="recent-box innerCatRecent">
    <small class="pb-1"><span class="dateIcn">
    	<img src="https://im4change.in/images/published.svg?1582080666" alt="published"/> 
		 Published on</span><span class="text-date"> Jul 8, 2019</span>
        &nbsp; <span
                class="dateIcn">
		 	<img src="https://im4change.in/images/modified.svg?1582080666" alt="modified"/>    	 Modified on </span><span class="text-date"> Jul 8, 2019</span>
    </small>
</section>
<div class="clear"></div>
<div style="padding-top: 10px;">
    <div class="innerLineHeight">
        <div class="middleContent innerInput technology">
            <table>
                <tr>
                    <td>
                                                <div>
                            <div align="justify">-Scroll.in/ The Third Pole<br /><br /><em>Flash-flood warnings routed through NGOs are giving border villages precious lead-time to escape the wrath of suddenly rising rivers.<br /></em><br />In the last few weeks of June, a series of WhatsApp messages were sent from Bhutan to India to warn cross-border friends downstream of the Aai, Saralbhanga and Manas rivers about cloud-bursts, swollen rivers and possible flash floods affecting people in the Indian state of Assam.<br /><br />Although originating from officials, these messages were not sent via official channels. That would involve the dzongdag &ndash; the administrative head of the dzonkhag, or district &ndash; in Geluphu passing information to the officials in Bhutan&rsquo;s capital Thimphu, who would then inform officials in New Delhi, the capital of India. They would, in turn, inform officials in Guwahati, the capital of the Indian state of Assam, who would pass the warnings on to Kokrajhar district headquarters. In the final stage, these messages would be relayed from there to villages along the India-Bhutan border.<br /><br />In most cases, this circuitous channel would take too long, with information either critically delayed or unclear and of little use to most river-bank communities in downstream Assam.<br /><br />Now, though, the communities are relying on these WhatsApp early warnings routed through members of the Bhutan-India Friendship Association to friends in NGOs like the North East Research and Social Work Networking , who pass the information to their network. Messages are forwarded within minutes, giving the villagers precious lead-time to prepare and escape the wrath of the suddenly rising rivers.<br /><br />&ldquo;It is difficult to predict when the flash floods will occur,&rdquo; said Kamal Kishor Hazarika, project officer at the District Disaster Management Authority in Kokrajhar. &ldquo;In case of water released from dams the Bhutanese government sends early warnings to New Delhi but even then some times, by the time we receive the information and pass it onto villages along the border it is too late. The challenge is lack of communication infrastructure in the area. There are no cell towers on the Indian side and most villagers on the border surreptitiously use Bhutanese SIM cards. Those WhatsApp messages probably save the lives of hundreds.&rdquo;<br /><br />These small rivers that start in Bhutan or Tibet flow into the transboundary Brahmaputra River in India.<br /><br />&ldquo;It&rsquo;s costly, using the internet, but for emergency, all the villagers depend on WhatsApp,&rdquo; agreed Aniram Basumatary of Saralpara village, speaking to The Third Pole. &ldquo;Communication is important, especially in the monsoon season. Anything can happen, and getting advance warning will help us to be ready. We have suffered enough because of the lack of warning.&rdquo;<br /><br />Decades of militancy in this corner of India has led to a complex situation, where communications infrastructure is seen as both a threat and an opportunity, making it a politically challenging decision to strengthen communications in the area.<br /><br /><em>The cost of no warning<br /></em><br />Banglajhora is a small village on the banks of Saralbhanga river in Kokrajhar district of Assam. The village faced three devastating floods in 2012, 2014 and then again in 2016. Since then, every monsoon the fear of floods is palpable among its residents, who belong to the Bodo indigenous community.<br /><br />Satyaraj Narzary recalled the floods of July 16, 2012. &ldquo;When I woke up in the morning, there was no water,&rdquo; said Narzary. &ldquo;Nor were there any signs of flood. But around 8 am, the water started rising and before we realised what was happening, the whole area was flooded. About 12 houses were washed away. Many families lost their cattle in the floods, their standing crop of paddy was destroyed and a considerable amount of land was lost due to erosion. We have not been able to farm on that land ever since.&rdquo; <br /><br />He said that the floods happened following heavy rains in the foothills of Bhutan when the Saralbhanga river broke a temporary embankment.<br /><br />In August 2014, Banglajhora was inundated again without warning, when the gushing waters of Saralbhanga eroded the Saralpara-Patgaon bund and several hectares of paddy and private properties in the area were destroyed. The local residents had to take shelter at a relief camp for over a week.<br /><br />The floods of 2016 were the worst. Heavy rains caused flash floods in most of the tributaries of the Brahmaputra. Nearly 1.8 million people were affected in 22 districts across Assam. Lower, Western Assam&rsquo;s Kokrajhar and Bongaigaon districts were the worst affected and the villagers of Banglajhora faced the brunt of it all.<br /><br />&ldquo;We had to run with our children and the few belongings we were able to gather,&rdquo; said Kamal Basumatari. &ldquo;One contingent of the Army rescue team was deployed to rescue us with lifeboats but the force of water was such that the first lifeboat turned turtle in the middle of the river and the villagers ended up rescuing the soldiers. After that, we made a raft with few tyre tubes and bamboo to ferry women, children and a few belongings across the river with great difficulty. I have never seen Saralbhanga so furious. The water was also very cold.&rdquo;<br /><br /><em>WhatsApp for disaster warning<br /></em><br />Neera Shreshta Pradhan of the International Centre for Integrated Mountain development told The Third Pole, &ldquo;Floods, both riverine and flash floods, are the most common hazards in the Hindu Kush Himalayas and account for 17% of people killed and 51% of the damage. Unlike riverine floods, flash floods occur rapidly with a very short lead time for warning. They can arise following intense rainfall events, or as a result of breaching of natural dams formed by landslides or from glacial lakes formed behind end moraine dams [called a glacial lake outburst flood].&rdquo;<br /><br />She added, &ldquo;In recent years, increasingly erratic and unpredictable monsoon rainfall patterns and increased climate variability have led to severe and frequent flood disasters in the region. There may be some information sharing between governments on major rivers, but tributaries are largely ignored. This is where social relations between transboundary communities are critical for any early warning systems to deliver. Clear and timely communication, proper functional network and preparedness reduces human casualties. Even a short lead time will save lives.&rdquo;<br /><br />Kripaljyoti Mazumder, state project officer at the Assam State Disaster Management Authority said, &ldquo;Bhutan is in a high rainfall zone but in the last 15 years to 20 years, there have been more and more cloudbursts, resulting in severe flash floods that destroy everything in their path with alarming regularity in Bhutan and then downriver in Assam. The floods of July 2016 in Saralbhanga river wiped out the entire Sarpang town in South Bhutan before unleashing havoc in Assam. Bhutanese experts have said that this is due to climate change and is in line with Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change reports.&rdquo;<br /><br />While the Bhutanese have responded by building mitigating structures and preparing their populations, the downstream communities along the border in India can only hope for timely information, seamless evacuation and minimum damage to their homes, cattle and crops.<br /><br />For this, the key elements of disaster risk reduction like risk knowledge, monitoring, analysis, warning generation, dissemination and communication of warning and preparedness for timely response have to work in sync.<br /><br />&ldquo;Getting timely early warning is not enough, the preparedness of the communities is important as well,&rdquo; said Raju Narzary of the North East Research &amp; Social Work Networking. &ldquo;Already the North East Research &amp; Social Work Networking has begun a hazard risk vulnerability assessment mapping of the river basin villages and identified volunteers in all villages to ensure that the early warnings from our friends in Bhutan reach the last mile families, even those who do not have access to WhatsApp or mobile phones.&rdquo;<br /><br />Aniram Basumatary, who does not own a motorcycle, but is saving up for one, said: &ldquo;Already this year, the WhatsApp warnings from Bhutan India Friendship Association to the last mile family has travelled within 10 minutes of being sent out. The delay was due to the fact that the last family ran out of phone batteries, so when we didn&rsquo;t see the ticks going blue, I borrowed a motorcycle to alert the family. Mobile phones are warning systems but you need motorcycle for sure, as there are always those without mobile phones.&rdquo;<br /><br /><em>Kokrajhar call for action<br /></em><br />Building on these relationships between the Bhutan India Friendship Association and the North East Research &amp; Social Work Networking, 14 civil society organisations from Bhutan and India, including the Bhutan Transparency Initiative and Aaranyak &ndash; a leading NGO in Assam &ndash; under the stewardship of Oxfam India&rsquo;s Transboundary Rivers of South Asia programme came together on June 20 and June 21 in Kokrajhar. These consultations were designed to strengthen people-to-people ties and help safeguard the rights of riparian communities upstream and downstream by supporting community-led cross-border ecosystem management and conservation practices.<br /><br />&ldquo;The biggest threat to peace is a lack of effective management of our water resources, especially along our borders,&rdquo; said Pankaj Anand, programme director of Oxfam India, during his inaugural address. &ldquo;Some of the poorest people live on transboundary waters of little known tributaries in remote parts of the Indo-Bhutan region, easily the most vulnerable to vagaries of climate change unfolding in these parts. Awareness, empathy, people-to-people networks supported by appropriate technologies, and timely and quality early warning information will go a long way in reducing risks to these communities.&rdquo;<br /><br />Kinzang Dorji, who served twice as Prime Minister of Bhutan, and is now the chairperson of the Bhutan Transparency Initiative said: &ldquo;Early warning is the moral responsibility of people living upstream towards people living downstream. What you are seeing in Kokrajhar district goes beyond the official friendly ties between Bhutan and India. In fact, this informal but friendly collaboration for early warning and sharing of our water resources between border communities of Bhutan and Assam is a model for peaceful relationships between countries at a time when peace around the world is threatened by the scarcity of water and climate change-induced disasters.&rdquo;<br /><br /><em>Shailendra Yashwant is a freelance journalist.</em><br /><br /><em>This report first appeared on <a href="https://www.thethirdpole.net/en/2019/07/04/community-communications-save-lives-in-assam/" title="https://www.thethirdpole.net/en/2019/07/04/community-communications-save-lives-in-assam/">The Third Pole</a>.</em><br /></div><div align="justify">&nbsp;</div><div align="justify">Scroll.in, 6 July, 2019, please <a href="https://scroll.in/article/929569/how-whatsapp-messages-from-bhutan-are-saving-lives-in-assam?fbclid=IwAR3GCreFt8xIvX-U0ZGGv6molGKuOXGa39vyKz1aNjd3mw0AQDJ2dxhABBo" title="https://scroll.in/article/929569/how-whatsapp-messages-from-bhutan-are-saving-lives-in-assam?fbclid=IwAR3GCreFt8xIvX-U0ZGGv6molGKuOXGa39vyKz1aNjd3mw0AQDJ2dxhABBo">click here</a> to access <br /></div>                                                           
                        </div>
                    </td>
                </tr>
            </table>
        </div>
    </div>
</div>
<div class="clear"></div>
    <br><a href="https://scroll.in/article/929569/how-whatsapp-messages-from-bhutan-are-saving-lives-in-assam?fbclid=IwAR3GCreFt8xIvX-U0ZGGv6molGKuOXGa39vyKz1aNjd3mw0AQDJ2dxhABBo" class="re" target="_blank">Scroll.in, 6 July, 2019, https://scroll.in/article/929569/how-whatsapp-messages-from-bhutan-are-saving-lives-in-assam?fbclid=IwAR3GCreFt8xIvX-U0ZGGv6molGKuOXGa39vyKz1aNjd3mw0AQDJ2dxhABBo</a><div class="clear"></div>
    <div style="padding-top: 18px;">
        <p class="post-tag">Tagged with:
                            <a class="tagcloud5"
                   href="https://im4change.in/search?qryStr=flash floods"
                   title="flash floods">
                    flash floods                </a>
                                <a class="tagcloud5"
                   href="https://im4change.in/search?qryStr=WhatsApp"
                   title="WhatsApp">
                    WhatsApp                </a>
                                <a class="tagcloud5"
                   href="https://im4change.in/search?qryStr=Early Warnings"
                   title="Early Warnings">
                    Early Warnings                </a>
                                <a class="tagcloud5"
                   href="https://im4change.in/search?qryStr=Flooding"
                   title="Flooding">
                    Flooding                </a>
                                <a class="tagcloud5"
                   href="https://im4change.in/search?qryStr=Community Social Media Networks"
                   title="Community Social Media Networks">
                    Community Social Media Networks                </a>
                        </p>
    </div>
<div class="clear"></div>
    <br><br>
    <div class="widget-top">
        <h4>Related Articles</h4>
        <div class="stripe-line"></div>
    </div>
    <div class="widget-container">
        <ul id="recentcomments">
                            <li class="recentcomments">
                    <a href="https://im4change.in/latest-news-updates/monsoon-takes-pause-in-august-after-july-deluge-el-nino-may-further-weaken-rains-rural-voice.html"
                       title="Monsoon takes pause in August after July deluge, El Nino may further weaken rains - Rural Voice">
                        Monsoon takes pause in August after July deluge, El Nino may further weaken rains - Rural Voice                    </a>
                </li>
                                <li class="recentcomments">
                    <a href="https://im4change.in/latest-news-updates/latest-christian-aid-report-identifies-top-10-climate-disasters-of-2022.html"
                       title="Latest Christian Aid report identifies top 10 climate disasters of 2022">
                        Latest Christian Aid report identifies top 10 climate disasters of 2022                    </a>
                </li>
                                <li class="recentcomments">
                    <a href="https://im4change.in/news-alerts-57/climate-induced-extreme-events-playing-havoc-with-the-economy-shows-latest-available-data.html"
                       title="Climate change induced extreme events are playing havoc with human lives & livelihoods, show latest available data">
                        Climate change induced extreme events are playing havoc with human lives & livelihoods, show latest available data                    </a>
                </li>
                                <li class="recentcomments">
                    <a href="https://im4change.in/latest-news-updates/extreme-weather-events-to-rise-manifold-in-india-due-to-climate-change-iit-gandhinagar-study.html"
                       title="Extreme Weather Events To Rise Manifold In India Due To Climate Change: IIT Gandhinagar Study">
                        Extreme Weather Events To Rise Manifold In India Due To Climate Change: IIT Gandhinagar Study                    </a>
                </li>
                                <li class="recentcomments">
                    <a href="https://im4change.in/latest-news-updates/assam-s-soil-erosion-worsening-with-climate-change-and-floods-gurvinder-singh.html"
                       title="Assam’s soil erosion worsening with climate change and floods -Gurvinder Singh">
                        Assam’s soil erosion worsening with climate change and floods -Gurvinder Singh                    </a>
                </li>
                
        </ul>
    </div>
    <div class="comment-respond" id="respond">
    <a name="commentbox">&nbsp;</a>
    <h3 class="comment-reply-title" id="reply-title">Write Comments</h3>
    <form method="post" accept-charset="utf-8" role="form" action="/technology/how-whatsapp-messages-from-bhutan-are-saving-lives-in-assam-shailendra-yashwant-4687529.html"><div style="display:none;"><input type="hidden" name="_method" value="POST"/></div>    <form class="comment-form" id="commentform" method="post" action="#commentbox" onSubmit="return validate()"
          name="cmtform">
        <input type="hidden" name="cmttype" value="articlecmt"/>
        <input type="hidden" name="article_id" value="39397"/>
        <p class="comment-notes">Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked <span
                    class="required">*</span></p>
                <p class="comment-form-author">
            <label for="commenterName">Name</label>
            <span class="required">*</span>
            <input type="text" aria-required="true" size="30"
                   value=""
                   name="commenterName" id="commenterName" required="true">
        </p>
        <p class="comment-form-email">
            <label for="commenterEmail">Email</label> <span class="required">*</span>
            <input aria-required="true" size="30" name="commenterEmail" id="commenterEmail" type="email"
                   value=""
                   required="true">
        </p>
        <p class="comment-form-contact">
            <label for="commenterPh">Contact No.</label>
            <input type="text" size="30"
                   value=""
                   name="commenterPh" id="commenterPh">
        </p>
        <p class="comment-form-comment">
            <label for="comment">Comment</label>
            <textarea aria-required="true" required="true" rows="8" cols="45" name="comment"
                      id="comment"></textarea>
        </p>
        <p class="comment-form-comment">
            <label for="comment">Type the characters you see in the image below <span class="required">*</span><br><img
                        class="captchaImg"
                        src="https://im4change.in/securimage_show_art.php?tk=1557049728" alt="captcha"/>
            </label>
        </p>
        <input type="text" name="vrcode" required="true"/>

        <p class="form-submit" style="width: 200px;">
            <input type="submit" value="Post Comment" id="submit" name="submit">
        </p></form>
</div>
<style>
    .ui-widget-content {
        height: auto !important;
    }
</style>
<div id="share-modal"></div>
<style>
    .middleContent a{
        background-color: rgba(108,172,228,.2);
    }
    .middleContent a:hover{
        background-color: #418fde;
        border-color: #418fde;
        color: #000;
        }
</style>
<script>
    function shareArticle(article_id) {
        var options = {
            modal: true,
            height: 'auto',
            width: 600 + 'px'
        };
        $('#share-modal').html("");
        $('#share-modal').load('https://im4change.in/share_article?article_id=' + article_id).dialog(options).dialog('open');
    }

    function postShare() {
        var param = 'article_id=' + $("#article_id").val();
        param = param + '&y_name=' + $("#y_name").val();
        param = param + '&y_email=' + $("#y_email").val();
        param = param + '&f_name=' + $("#f_name").val();
        param = param + '&f_email=' + $("#f_email").val();
        param = param + '&y_msg=' + $("#y_msg").val();

        $.ajax({
            type: "POST",
            url: 'https://im4change.in/post_share_article',
            data: param,
            success: function (response) {
                $('#share-modal').html("Thank You, Your message posted to ");
            }
        });
        return false;
    }
</script>                </div>
            </div>
            <!-- Right Side Section Start -->
<!-- MAP Section START -->
<aside class="sidebar indexMarg">
    <div class="ad-cell">
        <a href="https://im4change.in/statemap.php" title="">
            <img src="https://im4change.in/images/map_new_version.png?1582080666" alt="India State Map" class="indiamap" width="232" height="252"/>        </a>
        <div class="rightmapbox">
            <div id="sideOne" class="docltitle"><a href="https://im4change.in/state-report/india/36" target="_blank">DOCUMENTS/
                    REPORTS</a></div>
            <div id="sideTwo" class="statetitle"><a href="https://im4change.in/states.php"target="_blank">STATE DATA/
                    HDRs.</a></div>
        </div>
        <div class="widget widgePadTop"></div>
    </div>
</aside>
<!-- MAP Section END -->
<aside class="sidebar sidePadbottom">
    <div class="rightsmlbox1" >
        <a href="https://im4change.in/knowledge_gateway" target="_blank" style="color: #035588;
    font-size: 17px;">
            KNOWLEDGE GATEWAY
        </a>
    </div>
    <div class="rightsmlbox1">

        <div>
            <p class="rightsmlbox1_title">
                <a href="https://im4change.in/newsletter" target="_blank">
                    NEWSLETTER
                </a>
            </p>
        </div>
    </div>
        <div class="rightsmlbox1" style="height: 325px;">
        <div>
            <p class="rightsmlbox1_title">
                Interview with Prof. Ravi Srivastava
            </p>
            <p class="rightsmlbox1_title">
                <a href="https://im4change.in/video/interview-with-prof-ravi-srivastava-on-current-economic-crisis">
                <img width="250" height="200" src="/images/interview_video_home.jpg" alt="Interview with Prof. Ravi Srivastava"/>
                </a>
                <!--
                <iframe width="250" height="200" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/MmaTlntk-wc" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen=""></iframe>-->
               
            </p>
            <a href="https://im4change.in/videogallery" class="more-link CatArchalAnch1" target="_blank">
                                More videos
                            </a>
        </div>
    </div>
    
        <div class="rightsmlbox1">
        <div>
            <!--div id="sstory" class="rightboxicons"></div--->
            <p class="rightsmlbox1_title"><a href="https://im4change.in/list-success-stories"  target="_blank">Success Stories</a></p>
        </div>
    </div>
    <div class="rightsmlbox1">
        <div>
            <p class="rightsmlbox1_title"><a
                        href="https://im4change.in/interviews"  target="_blank">Interviews</a>
            </p>
        </div>
    </div>

    <div class="rightsmlbox1">
        <div>
            <p class="rightsmlbox1_title"><a href="https://www.commoncause.in/page.php?id=10" >Donate</a></p>
        </div>
    </div>
    <div class="rightsmlbox1">
        <div>
            <p class="rightsmlbox1_title"><a
        href="https://im4change.in/marquee"
        class="isf_link more-link" title="India Focus?" style="border: 4px solid #fdd922;width: 90%;background-color: #fdd922;text-align: center;color: #000000;font-size:18px"  target="_blank">India Focus</a></p>        </div>
    </div>

    <div class="rightsmlbox1" style="height: 104px !important;">
        <a href="https://im4change.in/quarterly_reports.php" target="_blank">
            Quarterly Reports on Effect of Economic Slowdown on Employment in India (2008 - 2015)
        </a>
    </div>
    
<!--     <div class="rightsmlbox1">
        <a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.im4.im4change" target="_blank">
            
        </a></div> -->
    <!-- <section class="cat-box recent-box secMarg">
        <h2 class="cat-box-title">Most Visited</h2>
    </section> -->
    <!-- accordion Starts here -->
    <!-- <div id="accordion" class="accordMarg">
            </div> -->
    <!-- accordion ends here -->
    <!-- Widget Tag Cloud Starts here -->
    <div id="tag_cloud-2" class="widget widget_tag_cloud">
        <section class="cat-box recent-box secMarg">
                <h2 class="cat-box-title">MOST VISITED TAGS</h2>
            </section>
        <div class="widget-top wiPdTp">
           
            <div class="stripe-line"></div>
        </div>
        <div class="widget-container">
            <div class="tagcloud">
                                    <a href="https://im4change.in/search?qryStr=Agriculture"
                       target="_blank" class="tag-link-4 font4">Agriculture</a>
                                        <a href="https://im4change.in/search?qryStr=Food Security"
                       target="_blank" class="tag-link-4 font4">Food Security</a>
                                        <a href="https://im4change.in/search?qryStr=Law and Justice"
                       target="_blank" class="tag-link-4 font4">Law and Justice</a>
                                        <a href="https://im4change.in/search?qryStr=Health"
                       target="_blank" class="tag-link-4 font4">Health</a>
                                        <a href="https://im4change.in/search?qryStr=Right to Food"
                       target="_blank" class="tag-link-4 font4">Right to Food</a>
                                        <a href="https://im4change.in/search?qryStr=Corruption"
                       target="_blank" class="tag-link-4 font4">Corruption</a>
                                        <a href="https://im4change.in/search?qryStr=farming"
                       target="_blank" class="tag-link-4 font4">farming</a>
                                        <a href="https://im4change.in/search?qryStr=Environment"
                       target="_blank" class="tag-link-4 font4">Environment</a>
                                        <a href="https://im4change.in/search?qryStr=Right to Information"
                       target="_blank" class="tag-link-4 font4">Right to Information</a>
                                        <a href="https://im4change.in/search?qryStr=NREGS"
                       target="_blank" class="tag-link-4 font4">NREGS</a>
                                        <a href="https://im4change.in/search?qryStr=Human Rights"
                       target="_blank" class="tag-link-4 font4">Human Rights</a>
                                        <a href="https://im4change.in/search?qryStr=Governance"
                       target="_blank" class="tag-link-4 font4">Governance</a>
                                        <a href="https://im4change.in/search?qryStr=PDS"
                       target="_blank" class="tag-link-4 font4">PDS</a>
                                        <a href="https://im4change.in/search?qryStr=COVID-19"
                       target="_blank" class="tag-link-4 font4">COVID-19</a>
                                        <a href="https://im4change.in/search?qryStr=Land Acquisition"
                       target="_blank" class="tag-link-4 font4">Land Acquisition</a>
                                        <a href="https://im4change.in/search?qryStr=mgnrega"
                       target="_blank" class="tag-link-4 font4">mgnrega</a>
                                        <a href="https://im4change.in/search?qryStr=Farmers"
                       target="_blank" class="tag-link-4 font4">Farmers</a>
                                        <a href="https://im4change.in/search?qryStr=transparency"
                       target="_blank" class="tag-link-4 font4">transparency</a>
                                        <a href="https://im4change.in/search?qryStr=Gender"
                       target="_blank" class="tag-link-4 font4">Gender</a>
                                        <a href="https://im4change.in/search?qryStr=Poverty"
                       target="_blank" class="tag-link-4 font4">Poverty</a>
                                    
                                <a href="https://im4change.in/search?qryStr=Farm Laws" target="_blank" class="tag-link-4 font4">Farm Laws
                </a>
                <a href="https://im4change.in/search?qryStr=Citizenship Amendment Act" target="_blank" class="tag-link-4 font4">Citizenship Amendment Act
                </a>
                <a href="https://im4change.in/search?qryStr=CAA NPR NRIC" target="_blank" class="tag-link-4 font4">CAA NPR NRIC
                </a>
                <a href="https://im4change.in/search?qryStr=Job Losses" target="_blank" class="tag-link-4 font4">Job Losses
                </a>
                <a href="https://im4change.in/search?qryStr=Migrant Workers" target="_blank" class="tag-link-4 font4">Migrant Workers
                </a>
                <a href="https://im4change.in/search?qryStr=Unemployment" target="_blank" class="tag-link-4 font4">Unemployment
                </a>
                <a href="https://im4change.in/search?qryStr=PMGKAY" target="_blank" class="tag-link-4 font4">PMGKAY
                </a>
                <a href="https://im4change.in/search?qryStr=PM-KISAN" target="_blank" class="tag-link-4 font4">PM-KISAN
                </a>
                <a href="https://im4change.in/search?qryStr=PM-CARES" target="_blank" class="tag-link-4 font4">PM-CARES
                </a>
                <a href="https://im4change.in/search?qryStr=LFPR" target="_blank" class="tag-link-4 font4">LFPR
                </a>
                
            </div>
        </div>
    </div>
    <!-- Widget Tag Cloud Ends here -->
</aside>
<!-- Right Side Section End -->
        </div>
        <section class="cat-box cats-review-box footerSec">
    <h2 class="cat-box-title vSec CatArcha">Video
        Archives</h2>
    <h2 class="cat-box-title CatArchaTitle">Archives</h2>
    <div class="cat-box-content">
        <div class="reviews-cat">
            <div class="CatArchaDiv1">
                <div class="CatArchaDiv2">
                    <ul>
                                                    <li>
                                <a href="https://im4change.in/news-alerts-57/moving-upstream-luni-fellowship.html"  target="_blank">
                                     Moving Upstream: Luni – Fellowship                                </a>
                            </li>
                                                        <li>
                                <a href="https://im4change.in/news-alerts-57/135-million-indians-exited-multidimensional-poverty-as-per-government-figures-is-that-the-same-as-poverty-reduction.html"  target="_blank">
                                     135 Million Indians Exited “Multidimensional" Poverty as per Government...                                </a>
                            </li>
                                                        <li>
                                <a href="https://im4change.in/news-alerts-57/explainer-why-are-tomato-prices-on-fire.html"  target="_blank">
                                     Explainer: Why are Tomato Prices on Fire?                                </a>
                            </li>
                                                        <li>
                                <a href="https://im4change.in/news-alerts-57/nsso-survey-only-39-1-of-all-households-have-drinking-water-within-dwelling-46-7-of-rural-households-use-firewood-for-cooking.html"  target="_blank">
                                     NSSO Survey: Only 39.1% of all Households have Drinking...                                </a>
                            </li>
                                                    <li class="CatArchalLi1">
                            <a href="https://im4change.in/news-alerts-57"
                               class="more-link CatArchalAnch1"  target="_blank">
                                More...
                            </a>
                        </li>
                    </ul>
                </div>
                                    <div class="CatArchaWidth">
                        <img class="CatArchaImg"
                             src="https://img.youtube.com/vi/I51LYnP8BOk/1.jpg"
                             alt=" Im4Change.org हिंदी वेबसाइट का परिचय. Short Video on im4change.org...">
                        <p class="CatArchaPPad">
                            <a href="https://im4change.in/video/Short-Video-on-im4change-Hindi-website-Inclusive-Media-for-Change"  target="_blank">
                                 Im4Change.org हिंदी वेबसाइट का परिचय. Short Video on im4change.org...                            </a>
                        </p>
                    </div>
                                        <div class="CatArchaWidth">
                        <img class="CatArchaImg"
                             src="https://img.youtube.com/vi/kNqha-SwfIY/1.jpg"
                             alt=" "Session 1: Scope of IDEA and AgriStack" in Exploring...">
                        <p class="CatArchaPPad">
                            <a href="https://im4change.in/video/Session-1- Scope-of-IDEA-and-AgriStack-in-Exploring-Digitalisation-in-Agriculture-29-April-2022"  target="_blank">
                                 "Session 1: Scope of IDEA and AgriStack" in Exploring...                            </a>
                        </p>
                    </div>
                                        <div class="CatArchaWidth">
                        <img class="CatArchaImg"
                             src="https://img.youtube.com/vi/6kIVjlgZItk/1.jpg"
                             alt=" "Session 2: Farmer Centric Digitalisation in Agriculture" in Exploring...">
                        <p class="CatArchaPPad">
                            <a href="https://im4change.in/video/Session-2-Farmer-Centric-Digitalisation-in-Agriculture-in-Exploring-Digitalisation-in-Agriculture-29-April-2022"  target="_blank">
                                 "Session 2: Farmer Centric Digitalisation in Agriculture" in Exploring...                            </a>
                        </p>
                    </div>
                                        <div class="CatArchaWidth">
                        <img class="CatArchaImg"
                             src="https://img.youtube.com/vi/2BeHTu0y7xc/1.jpg"
                             alt=" "Session 3: Future of Digitalisation in Agriculture" in Exploring...">
                        <p class="CatArchaPPad">
                            <a href="https://im4change.in/video/Session-3-Future-of-Digitalisation-in-Agriculture-in-Exploring-Digitalisation-in-Agriculture-29-April-2022"  target="_blank">
                                 "Session 3: Future of Digitalisation in Agriculture" in Exploring...                            </a>
                        </p>
                    </div>
                    


                <div class="divWidth">
                    <ul class="divWidthMarg">
                                                    <li>
                                <a href="https://im4change.in/video/Public-Spending-on-Agriculture-in-India-Source-Foundation-for-Agrarian-Studies"
                                   title="Public Spending on Agriculture in India (Source: Foundation for Agrarian Studies)"  target="_blank">
                                     Public Spending on Agriculture in India (Source: Foundation for...</a>
                            </li>
                                                        <li>
                                <a href="https://im4change.in/video/Agrarian-Change-Seminar-Protests-against-the-New-Farm-Laws-in-India-by-Prof-Vikas-Rawal-JNU-Source-Journal-Of-Agrarian-Change"
                                   title="Agrarian Change Seminar: 'Protests against the New Farm Laws in India' by Prof. Vikas Rawal, JNU (Source: Journal Of Agrarian Change) "  target="_blank">
                                     Agrarian Change Seminar: 'Protests against the New Farm Laws...</a>
                            </li>
                                                        <li>
                                <a href="https://im4change.in/video/Webinar-Ramrao-The-Story-of-India-Farm-Crisis-Source-Azim-Premji-University"
                                   title="Webinar: Ramrao - The Story of India's Farm Crisis (Source: Azim Premji University)"  target="_blank">
                                     Webinar: Ramrao - The Story of India's Farm Crisis...</a>
                            </li>
                                                        <li>
                                <a href="https://im4change.in/video/water-and-agricultural-transformation-in-India"
                                   title="Water and Agricultural Transformation in India: A Symbiotic Relationship (Source: IGIDR)"  target="_blank">
                                     Water and Agricultural Transformation in India: A Symbiotic Relationship...</a>
                            </li>
                                                    <li class="CatArchalLi1">
                            <a href="https://im4change.in/videogallery"
                               class="more-link CatArchalAnch1"  target="_blank">
                                More...
                            </a>
                        </li>
                    </ul>
                </div>
            </div>
        </div>
    </div>
</section>    </div>
    <div class="clear"></div>
    <!-- Footer option Starts here -->
    <div class="footer-bottom fade-in animated4">
        <div class="container">
            <div class="social-icons icon_flat">
                <p class="SocialMargTop"> Website Developed by <a target="_blank" title="Web Development"
                                                                  class="wot right"
                                                                  href="http://www.ravinderkhurana.com/" rel="nofollow">
                                                                  RAVINDErkHURANA.com</a></p>
            </div>
            <div class="alignleft">
                <a
     target="_blank" href="https://im4change.in/objectives-8.html"
    class="link"
    title="Objectives">Objectives</a> | <a
     target="_blank" href="https://im4change.in/about-us-9.html"
    class="link" title="About Us">About Us</a> | <a
     target="_blank" href="https://im4change.in/media-workshops.php"
    class="ucwords">Workshops</a> | <a
     target="_blank" href="https://im4change.in/disclaimer/disclaimer-149.html"
    title="Disclaimer">Disclaimer</a>            </div>
        </div>
    </div>
    <!-- Footer option ends here -->
</div>
<div id="connect">
    <a target="_blank"
       href="http://www.facebook.com/sharer.php?u=https://im4change.in/technology/how-whatsapp-messages-from-bhutan-are-saving-lives-in-assam-shailendra-yashwant-4687529.html"
       title="Share on Facebook">
        <img src="https://im4change.in/images/Facebook.png?1582080640" alt="share on Facebook" class="ImgBorder"/>
    </a><br/>
    <a target="_blank"
       href="http://twitter.com/share?text=Im4change&amp;url=https://im4change.in/technology/how-whatsapp-messages-from-bhutan-are-saving-lives-in-assam-shailendra-yashwant-4687529.html"
       title="Share on Twitter">
        <img src="https://im4change.in/images/twitter.png?1582080632" alt="Twitter" class="ImgBorder"/>    </a>
    <br/>
    <a href="/feeds" title="RSS Feed" target="_blank">
        <img src="https://im4change.in/images/rss.png?1582080632" alt="RSS" class="ImgBorder"/>
    </a>
    <br/>
    <a class="feedback-link" id="feedbackFormLink" href="#">
        <img src="https://im4change.in/images/feedback.png?1582080630" alt="Feedback" class="ImgBorder"/>
    </a> <br/>
    <a href="javascript:function iprl5(){var d=document,z=d.createElement('scr'+'ipt'),b=d.body,l=d.location;try{if(!b)throw(0);d.title='(Saving...) '+d.title;z.setAttribute('src',l.protocol+'//www.instapaper.com/j/WKrH3R7ORD5p?u='+encodeURIComponent(l.href)+'&amp;t='+(new Date().getTime()));b.appendChild(z);}catch(e){alert('Please wait until the page has loaded.');}}iprl5();void(0)"
       class="bookmarklet" onclick="return explain_bookmarklet();">
        <img src="https://im4change.in/images/read-it-later.png?1582080632" alt="Read Later" class="ImgBorder"/>    </a>
</div>
<!-- Feedback form Starts here -->
<div id="feedbackForm" class="overlay_form" class="ImgBorder">
    <h2>Contact Form</h2>
    <div id="contactform1">
        <div id="formleft">
            <form id="submitform" action="/contactus.php" method="post">
                <input type="hidden" name="submitform" value="submitform"/>
                <input type="hidden" name="salt_key" value="a0e0f2c6a0644a70e57ad2c96829709a"/>
                <input type="hidden" name="ref" value="feedback"/>
                <fieldset>
                    <label>Name :</label>
                    <input type="text" name="name" class="tbox" required/>
                </fieldset>
                <fieldset>
                    <label>Email :</label>
                    <input type="text" name="email" class="tbox" required/>
                </fieldset>
                <fieldset>
                    <label>Message :</label>
                    <textarea rows="5" cols="20" name="message" required></textarea>
                </fieldset>
                <fieldset>
                    Please enter security code
                    <div class="clear"></div>
                    <input type="text" name="vrcode" class="tbox"/>
                </fieldset>
                <fieldset>
                    <input type="submit" class="button" value="Submit"/>
                    &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; <a href="#" id="closefeedbakcformLink">Close</a>
                </fieldset>
            </form>
        </div>
        <div class="clearfix"></div>
    </div>
</div>
<div id="donate_popup" class="modal" style="max-width: 800px;">
    <table width="100%" border="1">
        <tr>
            <td colspan="2" align="center">
                <b>Support im4change</b>
            </td>
        </tr>
        <tr>
            <td width="25%" valign="middle">
                <img src="https://im4change.in/images/logo2.jpg?1582080632" alt="" width="100%"/>            </td>
            <td style="padding-left:10px;padding-top:10px;">
                <form action="https://im4change.in/donate" method="get">
                    <table width="100%" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="2">
                        <tr>
                            <td width="33%" style="font-family: 'Script Font', cursive, Arial;font-size: 20px;font-weight: 700;">
                                10
                            </td>
                            <td width="33%" style="font-family: 'Script Font', cursive, Arial;font-size: 20px;font-weight: 700;">
                                100
                            </td>
                            <td width="33%" style="font-family: 'Script Font', cursive, Arial;font-size: 20px;font-weight: 700;">
                                1000
                            </td>
                        </tr>
                        <tr>
                            <td colspan="3">
                                &nbsp;
                            </td>
                        </tr>
                        <tr>
                            <td  style="font-family: 'Script Font', cursive, Arial;font-size: 20px;font-weight: 700;">
                                50
                            </td>
                            <td  style="font-family: 'Script Font', cursive, Arial;font-size: 20px;font-weight: 700;">
                                500
                            </td>
                            <td  style="font-family: 'Script Font', cursive, Arial;font-size: 20px;font-weight: 700;">
                                <input type="text" name="price" placeholder="?" style="font-family: 'Script Font', cursive, Arial;font-size: 20px;font-weight: 700;">
                            </td>
                        </tr>
                        <tr>
                            <td colspan="3">
                                &nbsp;
                            </td>
                        </tr>
                        <tr>
                            <td colspan="3" align="right">
                                <input type="button" name="Pay" value="Pay"
                                       style="width: 200px;background-color: rgb(205, 35, 36);color: #ffffff;"/>
                            </td>
                        </tr>
                    </table>
                </form>
            </td>
        </tr>
    </table>
</div><script type='text/javascript'>

    /* <![CDATA[ */

    var tievar = {'go_to': 'Go to...'};

    /* ]]> */

</script>
<script src="/js/tie-scripts.js?1575549704"></script><script src="/js/bootstrap.js?1575549704"></script><script src="/js/jquery.modal.min.js?1578284310"></script><script>
    $(document).ready(function() {
        // tell the autocomplete function to get its data from our php script
        $('#s').autocomplete({
            source: "/autocomplete"
        });
    });
</script>
<script src="/vj-main-sw-register.js" async></script>

<script>function init(){var imgDefer=document.getElementsByTagName('img');for(var i=0;i<imgDefer.length;i++){if(imgDefer[i].getAttribute('data-src')){imgDefer[i].setAttribute('src',imgDefer[i].getAttribute('data-src'))}}}
window.onload=init;</script>
</body>
</html>'

}
$cookies = []
$values = [
	(int) 0 => 'text/html; charset=UTF-8'
]
$name = 'Content-Type'
$first = true
$value = 'text/html; charset=UTF-8'
header - [internal], line ??
Cake\Http\ResponseEmitter::emitHeaders() - CORE/src/Http/ResponseEmitter.php, line 181
Cake\Http\ResponseEmitter::emit() - CORE/src/Http/ResponseEmitter.php, line 55
Cake\Http\Server::emit() - CORE/src/Http/Server.php, line 141
[main] - ROOT/webroot/index.php, line 39

Home हिन्दी

How WhatsApp messages from Bhutan are saving lives in Assam -Shailendra Yashwant

Published on Jul 8, 2019   Modified on Jul 8, 2019

-Scroll.in/ The Third Pole Flash-flood warnings routed through NGOs are giving border villages precious lead-time to escape the wrath of suddenly rising rivers. In the last few weeks of June, a series of WhatsApp messages were sent from Bhutan to India to warn cross-border friends downstream of the Aai, Saralbhanga and Manas rivers about cloud-bursts, swollen rivers and possible flash floods affecting people in the Indian state of Assam. Although originating from officials, these messages were not sent via official channels. That would involve the dzongdag – the administrative head of the dzonkhag, or district – in Geluphu passing information to the officials in Bhutan’s capital Thimphu, who would then inform officials in New Delhi, the capital of India. They would, in turn, inform officials in Guwahati, the capital of the Indian state of Assam, who would pass the warnings on to Kokrajhar district headquarters. In the final stage, these messages would be relayed from there to villages along the India-Bhutan border. In most cases, this circuitous channel would take too long, with information either critically delayed or unclear and of little use to most river-bank communities in downstream Assam. Now, though, the communities are relying on these WhatsApp early warnings routed through members of the Bhutan-India Friendship Association to friends in NGOs like the North East Research and Social Work Networking , who pass the information to their network. Messages are forwarded within minutes, giving the villagers precious lead-time to prepare and escape the wrath of the suddenly rising rivers. “It is difficult to predict when the flash floods will occur,” said Kamal Kishor Hazarika, project officer at the District Disaster Management Authority in Kokrajhar. “In case of water released from dams the Bhutanese government sends early warnings to New Delhi but even then some times, by the time we receive the information and pass it onto villages along the border it is too late. The challenge is lack of communication infrastructure in the area. There are no cell towers on the Indian side and most villagers on the border surreptitiously use Bhutanese SIM cards. Those WhatsApp messages probably save the lives of hundreds.” These small rivers that start in Bhutan or Tibet flow into the transboundary Brahmaputra River in India. “It’s costly, using the internet, but for emergency, all the villagers depend on WhatsApp,” agreed Aniram Basumatary of Saralpara village, speaking to The Third Pole. “Communication is important, especially in the monsoon season. Anything can happen, and getting advance warning will help us to be ready. We have suffered enough because of the lack of warning.” Decades of militancy in this corner of India has led to a complex situation, where communications infrastructure is seen as both a threat and an opportunity, making it a politically challenging decision to strengthen communications in the area. The cost of no warning Banglajhora is a small village on the banks of Saralbhanga river in Kokrajhar district of Assam. The village faced three devastating floods in 2012, 2014 and then again in 2016. Since then, every monsoon the fear of floods is palpable among its residents, who belong to the Bodo indigenous community. Satyaraj Narzary recalled the floods of July 16, 2012. “When I woke up in the morning, there was no water,” said Narzary. “Nor were there any signs of flood. But around 8 am, the water started rising and before we realised what was happening, the whole area was flooded. About 12 houses were washed away. Many families lost their cattle in the floods, their standing crop of paddy was destroyed and a considerable amount of land was lost due to erosion. We have not been able to farm on that land ever since.” He said that the floods happened following heavy rains in the foothills of Bhutan when the Saralbhanga river broke a temporary embankment. In August 2014, Banglajhora was inundated again without warning, when the gushing waters of Saralbhanga eroded the Saralpara-Patgaon bund and several hectares of paddy and private properties in the area were destroyed. The local residents had to take shelter at a relief camp for over a week. The floods of 2016 were the worst. Heavy rains caused flash floods in most of the tributaries of the Brahmaputra. Nearly 1.8 million people were affected in 22 districts across Assam. Lower, Western Assam’s Kokrajhar and Bongaigaon districts were the worst affected and the villagers of Banglajhora faced the brunt of it all. “We had to run with our children and the few belongings we were able to gather,” said Kamal Basumatari. “One contingent of the Army rescue team was deployed to rescue us with lifeboats but the force of water was such that the first lifeboat turned turtle in the middle of the river and the villagers ended up rescuing the soldiers. After that, we made a raft with few tyre tubes and bamboo to ferry women, children and a few belongings across the river with great difficulty. I have never seen Saralbhanga so furious. The water was also very cold.” WhatsApp for disaster warning Neera Shreshta Pradhan of the International Centre for Integrated Mountain development told The Third Pole, “Floods, both riverine and flash floods, are the most common hazards in the Hindu Kush Himalayas and account for 17% of people killed and 51% of the damage. Unlike riverine floods, flash floods occur rapidly with a very short lead time for warning. They can arise following intense rainfall events, or as a result of breaching of natural dams formed by landslides or from glacial lakes formed behind end moraine dams [called a glacial lake outburst flood].” She added, “In recent years, increasingly erratic and unpredictable monsoon rainfall patterns and increased climate variability have led to severe and frequent flood disasters in the region. There may be some information sharing between governments on major rivers, but tributaries are largely ignored. This is where social relations between transboundary communities are critical for any early warning systems to deliver. Clear and timely communication, proper functional network and preparedness reduces human casualties. Even a short lead time will save lives.” Kripaljyoti Mazumder, state project officer at the Assam State Disaster Management Authority said, “Bhutan is in a high rainfall zone but in the last 15 years to 20 years, there have been more and more cloudbursts, resulting in severe flash floods that destroy everything in their path with alarming regularity in Bhutan and then downriver in Assam. The floods of July 2016 in Saralbhanga river wiped out the entire Sarpang town in South Bhutan before unleashing havoc in Assam. Bhutanese experts have said that this is due to climate change and is in line with Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change reports.” While the Bhutanese have responded by building mitigating structures and preparing their populations, the downstream communities along the border in India can only hope for timely information, seamless evacuation and minimum damage to their homes, cattle and crops. For this, the key elements of disaster risk reduction like risk knowledge, monitoring, analysis, warning generation, dissemination and communication of warning and preparedness for timely response have to work in sync. “Getting timely early warning is not enough, the preparedness of the communities is important as well,” said Raju Narzary of the North East Research & Social Work Networking. “Already the North East Research & Social Work Networking has begun a hazard risk vulnerability assessment mapping of the river basin villages and identified volunteers in all villages to ensure that the early warnings from our friends in Bhutan reach the last mile families, even those who do not have access to WhatsApp or mobile phones.” Aniram Basumatary, who does not own a motorcycle, but is saving up for one, said: “Already this year, the WhatsApp warnings from Bhutan India Friendship Association to the last mile family has travelled within 10 minutes of being sent out. The delay was due to the fact that the last family ran out of phone batteries, so when we didn’t see the ticks going blue, I borrowed a motorcycle to alert the family. Mobile phones are warning systems but you need motorcycle for sure, as there are always those without mobile phones.” Kokrajhar call for action Building on these relationships between the Bhutan India Friendship Association and the North East Research & Social Work Networking, 14 civil society organisations from Bhutan and India, including the Bhutan Transparency Initiative and Aaranyak – a leading NGO in Assam – under the stewardship of Oxfam India’s Transboundary Rivers of South Asia programme came together on June 20 and June 21 in Kokrajhar. These consultations were designed to strengthen people-to-people ties and help safeguard the rights of riparian communities upstream and downstream by supporting community-led cross-border ecosystem management and conservation practices. “The biggest threat to peace is a lack of effective management of our water resources, especially along our borders,” said Pankaj Anand, programme director of Oxfam India, during his inaugural address. “Some of the poorest people live on transboundary waters of little known tributaries in remote parts of the Indo-Bhutan region, easily the most vulnerable to vagaries of climate change unfolding in these parts. Awareness, empathy, people-to-people networks supported by appropriate technologies, and timely and quality early warning information will go a long way in reducing risks to these communities.” Kinzang Dorji, who served twice as Prime Minister of Bhutan, and is now the chairperson of the Bhutan Transparency Initiative said: “Early warning is the moral responsibility of people living upstream towards people living downstream. What you are seeing in Kokrajhar district goes beyond the official friendly ties between Bhutan and India. In fact, this informal but friendly collaboration for early warning and sharing of our water resources between border communities of Bhutan and Assam is a model for peaceful relationships between countries at a time when peace around the world is threatened by the scarcity of water and climate change-induced disasters.” Shailendra Yashwant is a freelance journalist. This report first appeared on The Third Pole.   Scroll.in, 6 July, 2019, please click here to access

Scroll.in, 6 July, 2019, https://scroll.in/article/929569/how-whatsapp-messages-from-bhutan-are-saving-lives-in-assam?fbclid=IwAR3GCreFt8xIvX-U0ZGGv6molGKuOXGa39vyKz1aNjd3mw0AQDJ2dxhABBo

Tagged with: flash floods WhatsApp Early Warnings Flooding Community Social Media Networks

Related Articles

• Monsoon takes pause in August after July deluge, El Nino may further weaken rains - Rural Voice
• Latest Christian Aid report identifies top 10 climate disasters of 2022
• Climate change induced extreme events are playing havoc with human lives & livelihoods, show latest available data
• Extreme Weather Events To Rise Manifold In India Due To Climate Change: IIT Gandhinagar Study
• Assam’s soil erosion worsening with climate change and floods -Gurvinder Singh

 

Write Comments

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Name *

Email *

Contact No.

Comment

Type the characters you see in the image below *

Video Archives

Archives

• Moving Upstream: Luni – Fellowship
• 135 Million Indians Exited “Multidimensional" Poverty as per Government...
• Explainer: Why are Tomato Prices on Fire?
• NSSO Survey: Only 39.1% of all Households have Drinking...
• More...

Im4Change.org हिंदी वेबसाइट का परिचय. Short Video on im4change.org...

"Session 1: Scope of IDEA and AgriStack" in Exploring...

"Session 2: Farmer Centric Digitalisation in Agriculture" in Exploring...

"Session 3: Future of Digitalisation in Agriculture" in Exploring...

• Public Spending on Agriculture in India (Source: Foundation for...
• Agrarian Change Seminar: 'Protests against the New Farm Laws...
• Webinar: Ramrao - The Story of India's Farm Crisis...
• Water and Agricultural Transformation in India: A Symbiotic Relationship...
• More...

Website Developed by RAVINDErkHURANA.com

Objectives | About Us | Workshops | Disclaimer

Support im4change
	10 100 1000   50 500