Government’s use of technology post April 25

The massive earthquake of April 25 has pushed the government to making best use of technology. From joining social media to constantly updating their websites, developing smartphone apps and introducing toll free hotline services, government bodies have left no stones unturned in ensuring that the public receive the right real-time information regarding the earthquake and its aftershocks, casualties, relief operations, etc.

GOVERNMENT BODIES AND SOCIAL MEDIA

Internet, particularly social media, became the leading information portal for Nepalis all over the world as telephone network in Nepal became unable to handle the traffic post the April 25 earthquake. As the media, non-government organizations and international organizations actively started sharing every bit of information on Facebook and Twitter besides constantly updating their websites, the government followed suit.

Government bodies like Nepal Police, Armed Police Force, National Seismological Center, etc actively posted and shared credible information regarding the earthquake, casualties, death tolls, and relief and rescue operations via various online portals. The Prime Minister's Office joined Twitter on April 28 to make public the funds received from various sources and to channelize it to help the earthquake victims. Similarly, the National Emergency Center joined the micro blogging site on April 30 to inform the public about casualties and relief efforts being carried out by the government across the country.

Since information from these sources was deemed most credible, more and more people cited them while openly applauding the government's active use of social media.

NEPAL SEISMOLOGICAL CENTER

sesmology

The Department of Mines and Geology, Nepal Government, constantly updated the website of the National Seismological Center—seismonepal.gov.np—and it still updates the website with detailed information of the time, epicenter, latitude and longitude, and magnitude of the ongoing aftershocks and earthquakes. The visitors of the site even have the option to fill up a survey form wherein they can give details about their earthquake experience. Visitors can also take a look at the weekly and monthly epicenter maps in the website.

NEPAL EARTHQUAKE UPDATES

Nepal Earthquake Updates, an app developed by the Department of Mines and Geology reigned as the top free Android app in Nepal weeks after its release on May 16. The smartphone app provides detailed information about earthquakes above 4 in the Richter scale in Nepal, i.e. local magnitude of earthquake in Richter scale, epicenter location, NST local time and previous records. While many user reviews of the app saw complaints regarding its constant display of 'connection timed out', others have labeled it "relevant" and "easy to use."

EARTHQUAKE HOTLINE SERVICE

hotline

Keeping in mind those who don't have an access to Internet, National Seismological Center in cooperation with Nepal Telecom has introduced a toll free telephone number—1618014410141—for general public to get updates on latest aftershocks and earthquakes in Nepal. Upon dialing the number, an automated voice gives detailed information regarding the latest aftershock's time, epicenter and magnitude to the caller.