Chandragiri Municipality Introduces Panic Button for Immediate Disaster Assistance

Kathmandu: Chandragiri Municipality in Kathmandu has launched a system that allows residents to request immediate rescue assistance from their mobile phones during disasters. The system, operational since last June, enables users to alert authorities by triggering a siren on the Emergency Response Console (ERC) installed at the municipality’s emergency operations center.

Through the ‘Kataho’ mobile app, residents can seek help during fire incidents, health emergencies, or security threats. Bhadra Aryal, Senior Branch Officer at the Municipality’s Environment and Disaster Management Branch, said that the service can currently be accessed online.

To use the service, users must download the ‘Kataho’ app and grant access to their phone number and location. Aryal said, “After downloading the app, you can press the emergency button in case of a disaster. Only residents within Chandragiri Municipality can access this service.”

By pressing the red siren-like panic button in the app continuously for six seconds, a siren sounds at the municipality’s ERC center. At the same time, details such as the caller’s digital address and contact number are automatically received.

Once the alert is triggered, the city police immediately contact the person in need and dispatch a rescue team to the location. Aryal said that 23 city police personnel have been deployed to handle such emergencies.

She added that the service is being provided through the ‘Kataho’ app because the municipality’s own app has not yet been launched. “Preparations are underway to make the service available offline through our own municipal app,” Aryal said.

According to her, the system can send distress alerts even when a person is unable to speak. It aims to make disaster management more technology-friendly and efficient.

So far, seven people have been rescued using this system. However, the number of users remains low due to limited awareness. Aryal said, “We are planning to raise awareness by visiting each ward and informing employees, representatives, and locals about the system.”

 

 

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