Google will now offer flood alerts in India, as part of its efforts to make critical information accessible during natural disasters, reported PTI. In a statement released on Tuesday, the technology giant said that users will be able to get information on the flood situation and river levels for more than 170 areas in the country. Google will provide information for every area that has an observation station maintained by the Central Water Commission.

The alerts will be available on web search, Google Now cards, Google Maps and the Google Public Alerts homepage. "Timely information is the first step in disaster preparedness and has the potential to save thousands of lives lost to natural disasters each year," Google product manager Payal Patel said. In 2015, Google introduced cyclone alerts, which offer information with details about the hazard, including a map and expected timeline, as well as tips on how to stay safe.

In a separate development, the central government on Tuesday issued new guidelines for disaster warnings. The Prime Minister's Office and the Cabinet Secretariat will now have to be updated every three hours on the developing situation of any disaster categorised as "Red" and every 12 hours in case of a disaster classified as "Orange".