Tech to the Rescue: New apps aid relief, rehabilitation of Assam’s flood-affected
Assam floods spur tech-led relief efforts as AI and community platforms connect flood-hit people with volunteers, NGOs and relief providers to coordinate aid.
On July 20, tech entrepreneur Javed Saikia from Bengaluru was working when he witnessed news of heavy flooding and incessant rainfall in Assam's four districts. This led to large-scale devastation and displacement. Saikia, originally from Jorhat, quickly developed Jal Raksha, an AI-powered WhatsApp tool to aid relief efforts. Jal Raksha allows those affected to send messages with their location, phone number, photo, and voice message detailing their situation. Relief providers can then use GPS coordinates to know what items are needed at each location.
Partha Borthakur, also from Jorhat, noticed relief vehicles heading to one area without coordination. This prompted him and friends to create banpani.org, a community-driven initiative for flood relief coordination. It provides a live map for reporting needs and shows coverage gaps, allowing relief groups to announce where they are headed. Banpani.org also offers verified donation drop-off points and real-time flood status and rainfall data.
Helpmonk, developed by Firingoti, is another platform that emerged during the floods. This free mobile app incorporates geo-tagging, location sharing, image uploads, verification mechanisms, and real-time status updates to ensure help reaches the right people quickly. Anuj Kumar Boruah, co-founder of Firingoti, stated that their vision extends beyond donations, aiming to become a comprehensive disaster response platform for individuals, rescue agencies, government departments, NGOs, volunteer groups, local communities, and donors.
While these platforms were created to address the immediate needs of Assam's flood-affected areas, their founders emphasized that the technology can be used during any disaster across the country and beyond. They also stressed that their platforms are intended to complement, not replace, the work of the Assam State Disaster Management Authority (ASDMA). However, response to these platforms has been slow, with founders believing that increasing awareness and accessibility is crucial for wider adoption.
Written by urgent.news from Hindustan Times's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
