YADGIR: The Sidilu app, developed by the Karnataka State Natural Disaster Monitoring Centre (KSNMDC) to warn cowherds, shepherds and farmers about lightning strikes and thunderstorms in advance, does not seem to have benefited shepherds here. The app, which gives location-specific warnings to mobile users to protect themselves, is facing technical glitches and shuts off on its own.
In the past week, the district saw an increase in deaths due to lightning strikes and people are anxious, but the app has been of no use to them. Due to technical errors, users cannot access the app to check information about lightning strikes in their area. They have demanded that the problems be resolved immediately.
“Yesterday evening, there were thick clouds. We were apprehensive about being out here, but our work is important. People at home tell us to take care of ourselves, but if our fate is to die like that, we cannot avoid it. Our lives revolve around our daily routine of tending our sheep, but we cannot sit at home in fear of death,” said a shepherd.
“The state government introduced the Sidilu app, especially for farmers and shepherds, to get information about rain and lightning strikes. But the app cannot be used to to technical errors. Many people were killed as a result of lightning strikes. Everybody is anxious. If there is a technical error, the authorities should resolve it. People should also be made aware of the app,” said a farmer.