Many people in states like Bihar, Uttar Pradesh and Assam are continuing to grapple with the effects of the flooding. This monsoon season has seen some of the most devastating floods in these parts of India. Along with the Central Water Commission (CWC), Google India has deployed its flood forecasting initiative and sent numerous public alerts to people in impacted regions across India, over the past several months. These alerts provide timely, updated, and critical information that can help users make informed decisions on their safety. Any user in the affected region with an Android smartphone with location services enabled will receive these alerts. Google India is currently issuing these notifications in English, Hindi and Bengali depending on the device language and location of users. One can also use Search to simply enter a query on a flood-affected area to see key information on the current situation in that region.
If there is a current flooding situation in the area, the user will see a visual overview of key information including the rise or fall in the water level in the next day with a description of the recent situation containing specific guidance where available. User will also see a colour-coded map indicating the flooded areas – clicking on this map will open a larger, more detailed view in Google Maps. One can use this feature by searching for “flooding” and the name of an affected location on Search or Maps. Google India will continue to remain committed to using technology to help people especially during natural disasters, and continue to work closely with local authorities to bring timely, relevant, and useful information to people who most need it.
