3rd Pre-Summit of World Summit on Disaster Management (WSDM 2025)

📍 Venue: Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research (JNCASR), Bengaluru

📅 Date: 24th May 2025
🕘 Time: 9:30 AM – 4:30 PM
🎯 Theme: Role of Technology for Climate and Disaster Risk Resilience
🎓 Organised by: UCOST (Govt. of Uttarakhand) & HAST

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🔷 Context & Objective

As a lead-up to the World Summit on Disaster Management to be held in Dehradun (28–30 Nov 2025), the 3rd Pre-Summit in Bengaluru focused on how cutting-edge technologies can build climate-resilient and disaster-prepared communities, particularly in the fragile Himalayan region.

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🔶 Inaugural Highlights

• Opening address emphasized the spiritual, ecological, and geopolitical importance of the Himalayas by our honourable Goveronor  Thawar Chand Gehlot 

• Referenced real-world disasters (e.g., Kedarnath floods, Joshimath sinking) as urgent calls for better planning.

• Reinforced the importance of “Strengthening International Cooperation for Resilient Communities.”

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🔷 Technical Sessions Summary

🔹 Session 1: Technology as a Core Enabler

• GIS and satellite-based monitoring must be expanded to village-level disaster mapping.

• Prof. Vinod Menon emphasized local innovation and integrating community wisdom.

• Proposal to create a pan-India open disaster database with local access in multiple languages.

🔹 Session 2: Observation Systems

• Demonstrated how remote sensing, drones, and mobile apps aid early warning systems.

• Highlighted ISRO’s and SEEDS India’s work in integrating space-based monitoring.

• Emphasis on precision risk detection and democratized data flow to last-mile users.

🔹 Session 3: Disruptive Technologies

• Panel covered AI, blockchain for relief logistics, and IoT in agriculture resilience.

• Cited rural case studies where predictive analytics helped reduce losses in floods.

• UNESCO’s participation reinforced youth-led climate tech innovations.

🔹 Session 4: Implementation Challenges 

• Policy gaps and lack of ground-level adoption still hinder resilience goals.

• Suggestions included decentralizing disaster management to Panchayat level.

• Advocated for community-owned tools, storytelling, multilingual platforms, and SHG-driven action.

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🔶 Special Presentation

• Dr. Suhajyoti Pathi presented on EWM Darchula Glacier retreat, with alarming signs of Himalayan water crisis.

• Called for immediate cross-border collaboration on glacier research and conservation.

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🌿 Takeaways & Recommendations

• Need for convergence: Technology, community leadership, and policy must converge.

• Himalayas as climate barometers: Their preservation is linked to over a billion lives.

• Action beyond discussion: Tools, frameworks, and protocols must be field-tested and funded.

• Youth, farmers, scientists, and innovators must co-create scalable solutions rooted in culture and science