Unleashing Change through Individual Effort in Community-Based Flood Early Warning System: A Case Study of Parbati Gurung
A blog by Youth Innovation Lab, a Frontier Tech Hub Implementing Partner.
Pilot: Using climate change scenarios to inform community-based adaptation and planning in Nepal
Parbati Gurung with rain gauge device at the climate monitoring station, Chisapani.
In the early morning of December, amidst the sunlit mid-hills of the Eastern Himalayas, chilling northerly wind gust through the Karnali River. Parbati Gurung unlocks the door to a flood monitoring station — a compact concrete room resembling a telephone booth — perched high above the turbulent and murky waters of the Karnali River, which converges with the Ganges. With meticulous attention, Gurung diligently examines every aspect of the flood monitoring station situated in Chisapani. During the monsoon season, spanning from June to September and accounting for approximately 80% of Nepal’s annual precipitation, the flood risk escalates to distressing levels. Through her unwavering commitment and the vital manually collected data from these stations, Gurung plays a pivotal role in safeguarding the lives of numerous individuals downstream who persistently grapple with the looming risk of floods.
Youth Innovation Lab (YI-Lab), in collaboration with the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) as part of the Frontier Tech Hub programme, has embarked on a project entitled “Climate Change Scenarios to Inform Community-based Adaptations and Planning in Nepal” (CCSICAPN). The primary objective of this project is to facilitate the capacity building of local governments in leveraging existing data, policies, and technology, thereby empowering them to implement Disaster Risk Reduction and Climate Change Adaptation (DRR and CCA) plans and interventions through data-driven decision-making processes. The project is being implemented in the Rajapur municipality and Bhotekoshi rural municipality of Nepal. The project endeavours to address the disparities in understanding the risks associated with climate change and support communities in mitigating those impacts. This necessitates the bridging of knowledge gaps among scientists, practitioners, and affected communities through effective risk communication strategies and collaborative efforts involving relevant stakeholders.
Rajapur municipality, located in Lumbini province, is positioned amidst two flood-prone tributaries of the Karnali River. The region primarily comprises sedimentary deposits formed as the Karnali River emerges from the foothills of the Himalayas. Flood occurrences in this area are recurrent and stem from heavy rainfall and rising water levels in the Karnali River. Notable flood events include the catastrophic disaster in 2014, which tragically claimed the lives of approximately 222 individuals and affected over 100,000 people in the region. In October 2021, Rajapur Municipality witnessed the devastating impact of inundation, affecting 1,213 households and causing severe crop losses for 9,281 farmers. [1]
To gain a comprehensive understanding of the prevailing conditions and ground reality in Rajapur, our team from YI-Lab conducted a visit to Rajapur municipality in December 2022, unearthing intriguing insights into the community’s response to floods. Our initial stop was the Rajapur municipality office, where we were warmly greeted by the deputy mayor, Ms. Man Kala Chaudhary. She graciously provided us with a concise overview of the municipality’s ongoing disaster management efforts. Notably, she emphasised that floods were the most prevalent and recurrent calamity, followed by conflicts with wildlife and cold waves. To address these challenges, the municipality had implemented an Early Warning System (EWS), affording downstream communities a lead time of 3 to 5 hours to prepare for impending floods. This system has facilitated prompt responses from the community, empowering them to take necessary measures to alleviate the impact of flooding.
Moreover, our team engaged in discussions with Mr. Khusiram Chaudhary, the Disaster Risk Reduction focal person and IT officer in Rajapur municipality. He offered valuable insights into the flood control and mitigation initiatives implemented by the municipality. We learned that the municipality possesses a robust response mechanism, consisting of a fully operational Local Emergency Operation Centre (LEOC) and a Community-Based Flood Early Warning System (CBFEWS), which was initiated by Practical Action (PA).
“Previously, floods used to hit the villages without warning. Now, things have changed. The flood alerts from the upstream stations and CDMC’s coordination on dissemination of the early warnings have made it far easier to minimise the damage. Ms. Parbati Gurung is the key informant for sending the early warning information to the community.” (Mr. Khusiram Chaudhary, Rajapur Municipality)
We had the privilege of engaging in an informative discussion with Dr. Dharam Uprety, a distinguished representative from Practical Action, who has been actively involved in enhancing the community-based early warning system in Rajapur. Dr. Uprety provided a comprehensive overview of the notable efficacy of the CBFEWS in Rajapur, shedding light on its impact in safeguarding the community. Additionally, he highlighted the development of flood insurance schemes specifically focused to cater to the needs of vulnerable populations within the community.
“Communicating science to the end users is very important. It is the need of the hour to establish end-to-end and trustworthy early warning system, and to increase lead time for dissemination of weather forecasting to the community people for their preparedness.” (Dr. Dharam Uprety)
It was brought to our attention by Dr. Uprety that Parbati Gurung plays a pivotal role in the dissemination of flood information within the community. Her dedicated efforts directly contribute to the effectiveness of early warning systems, facilitating timely responses to potential threats and safeguarding lives. Parbati diligently monitors water levels at a designated station, despite receiving a modest monthly remuneration of $45, funded by the Department of Hydrology and Meteorology (DHM).
Acquaintance of the community with Parbati Didi[2]
Following a brief dialogue with key informants from the municipality, our team was eager to engage directly with community members affected by the issue at hand. Thus, we proceeded towards the location called Daulatpur, in Ward №2, situated near the banks of the Karnali River.
Placed alongside the majestic Karnali River, we met Potan Tharu, a 41-year-old individual actively involved in the construction of a wooden bridge, intended to facilitate river crossings for the nearby communities. Our team took this opportunity to inquire about his first-hand encounters with floods, prompting him to recount his experiences as a flood survivor. Throughout our conversation, he shared the following insights:
“Chisapani gauge reader, Parbati Didi gives the early warning information via mobile phone to the downstream people. We get SMS and phone call for preparing to escape the place and flee homes with our belongings.” (Potan Tharu, 41)
Continuing our expedition, we encountered a gathering of women in Daulatpur, enjoying the warmth of the sun. Through our conversation, we acquired knowledge regarding the area’s history of inundation, specifically in 1983, 2009, 2013, and 2014. Among these occurrences, the most severe inundations occurred in 1983 and 2014. The devastating floods resulted in the destruction of houses, agricultural lands, and livestock. As a result, the affected community members were compelled to construct new residences in the vicinity. Regrettably, the women highlighted the minimal concern displayed by ward-level governments regarding the relocation of flood victims.
“The only way out is escaping from the flood. We grab our belongings and set up a tent on higher grounds when river water gushes into our settlement. Parbati Gurung from the upstream let us know about the water level in the Chisapani Station so that we can get time to grab essential things and become ready to move to a safer location.” (Budhani Tharu, 70)
Conversation about flood impacts of the past with group of women in Daulatpur.
Conversation about flood impacts of the past with group of men at a teashop.
Continuing our journey from Daulatpur, we had the opportunity to meet a group of elderly gentlemen engrossed in conversation while savouring their tea at a local tea shop. Generously, they offered us seats and ordered some tea for our team. After introducing ourselves and explaining the purpose of our visit to Rajapur, aimed at comprehending the prevailing conditions in this highly flood-prone region, the gentlemen expressed their heartfelt concerns. They lamented the annual loss of crops and the damage inflicted upon houses by the floods originating from both the Karnali River and Budhi Kulo, an irrigation canal. However, they also noted the improvements in the effectiveness of early warning information in recent years. The provision of timely warnings has aided the villagers in undertaking preparations before the flood water enters their village.
“When the water level rises, we contact the gauge reader, Parbati Gurung in Chisapani, and if the water level rises to the ‘danger mark then sirens are heard and, we get ready to move to a safer place.” (Chitra Bahadur Gharti, 51)
Meeting with Parbati Didi in action
After hearing numerous anecdotes about Parbati Didi, we were eager to meet her and listen to her narratives first-hand. On the morning of 23rd December, we arrived at Chisapani, where we promptly contacted Parbati Didi. She directed us to meet her at Chisapani station. As we reached the station, a warm smile greeted us from a 62-year-old woman who proceeded to guide us towards the weather station.
River station at Chisapani, Karnali (Readings as of 9 June 2023, 13:45 (GMT +5:45)) Source: bipadportal.gov.np
Within the station, Parbati Didi provided us with a comprehensive overview of the river gauge, an instrument employed to measure water levels in the river. She shared that her association with monitoring the river dates to her childhood, having taken on the role following her father’s tragic demise. Her father, who was also a gauge reader, lost his life while monitoring the flood of 1989.
The station serves as a critical flood forecasting facility for the Karnali River, responsible for monitoring water levels that could potentially impact downstream flood plains. Warning water levels have been established at 9 meters, 10 meters, and 11 meters, as indicated in the table below.
Flood levels at Chisapani and their significance downstream
Once the river level reaches the threshold of 9 meters, a group SMS is promptly transmitted to the community members downstream. Monitoring is facilitated by radar-based technology, which captures flood level data and transmits it to the server via telemetry system. This information is then widely disseminated through the website and SMS alerts. To further enhance effectiveness, the system is equipped with an alarm mechanism that is triggered when the water level surpasses predetermined thresholds of yellow and red. Additionally, the communities possess knowledge regarding the travel time of the flood from the Chisapani Station, as well as the corresponding lead time available for each location.
Parbati Gurung: a life saver
Parbati Didi in action at Chisapani flood monitoring station.
The role played by Parbati Gurung within the EWS is of paramount importance, as she bears the responsibility of relaying critical early warning information to a population exceeding 60,000, residing between Chisapani and the Nepal-India border, located 20 km downstream.[3] Through this system, 74 flood-prone villages along the lower Karnali River receive a valuable two to three-hour lead time. Even in instances where the automated monitoring system of the Department of Hydrology and Meteorology (DHM) fails to provide warnings, Parbati Gurung fulfils a pivotal role by manually transmitting water level information to the downstream villages. Her diligent efforts in recording water levels manually have made substantial contributions to the efficacy of the community-based early warning system. Consequently, the fate of numerous communities within the lower Karnali river basin hinges upon the information disseminated by an individual.
Although many downstream residents may have never had the opportunity to meet Parbati Gurung in person, she is regarded as a heroic figure due to the life-saving warnings she disseminates. The story of Parbati Gurung serves as a powerful reminder that a single person can lead to a significant difference in society.
Through this pilot initiative, our team intends to provide support to the local authorities in collaboration with communities and acknowledge the pivotal roles of individuals, serving to establish effective systems for risk communication. By doing so, effective systems for risk communication can be established, safeguarding the well-being of communities, and enhancing overall resilience.
Over the next three months (May to August 2023), the YI-Lab team will undertake a study to enhance the capacity of local governments and communities to understand risks and implement data-driven decision-making for disaster risk management and climate change. Our researchers, stationed in the project municipalities of Rajapur and Bhotekoshi, will assess the implementation status of local plans and policies related to disaster risk reduction and climate change, emphasising the importance of digital data in decision-making processes. We are also working to communicate and contextualise risk at the community level as a meaning-making process through visual art activities such as mural art painting at the school and community buildings. By fostering a collaborative environment that integrates scientific knowledge, technological resources, and local expertise, we aim to empower communities and support local governments in their decision-making processes.
[1] https://www.nepallivetoday.com/2022/05/26/emerging-from-pain-how-locals-of-rajapur-found-ways-to-control-floods-and-save-their-houses/
[2] Didi referring to an elder sister in Nepali
[3] Gladfelter, S. (2018). The politics of participation in community-based early warning systems: Building resilience or precarity through local roles in disseminating disaster information? International Journal of Disaster Risk Reduction, 30, 120–131. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijdrr.2018.02.022
If you’d like to dig in further…
📚 Read our in-depth evidence on IoT sensors for impact (long read)
⛴️ Explore this pilot’s profile page (short read)
