Thirty-one-year-old Poonam Rawat’s voice is recognisable across five districts in the Indian state of Uttarakhand’s Garhwal region. For someone who identifies herself as an introvert, Poonam now has an audience of nearly 3.5 lakh, who tune in to her bulletins and programs regularly. Poonam’s life took a turn eight years ago when she joined Mandakini ki Awaz, a community radio station in Sena Gadsari village in Rudraprayag district.

Given that the Garhwal region is prone to floods, landslides and forest fires, the station lays a special emphasis on broadcasting public service announcements (PSAs) related to these extreme weather events. According to CEEW analysis, there has been a four-fold increase in the frequency and intensity of floods and associated events like landslides in Uttarakhand since the 1970s.

Over the years, the radio station has become an invaluable link between the government and the communities in enhancing disaster preparedness. The India Meteorological Department, Dehradun, provides the station with accurate and up-to-date weather information. They also often correspond with the State Disaster Management Authority (SDMA), which relies on the station to air key messages and early warnings.

The 2013 Kedarnath flash floods, which left over 5,000 dead, were a grim reminder of the vulnerability of the region. Having faced several challenges in accessing accurate information during that time the team at Mandakini ki Awaz took a deliberate decision to have a focus on disasters.