The government has said, improved disaster preparedness is the need of the hour to minimise losses from natural calamities. <br/><br/>Addressing BIMSTEC Disaster Management Exercise in New Delhi today, Home Minister Rajnath Singh said, the BIMSTEC nations have to make significant progress in this direction. <br/><br/>Mr Singh said, if the BIMSTEC member states share the hydrological data of transnational rivers with downstream countries, it will certainly help in risk reduction and better disaster preparedness. <br/><br/>He said, there is a need to build a consensus on regular sharing of hydrological data of transnational rivers.<br/><br/>The Home Minister reiterated India's commitment to stand shoulder to shoulder with other BIMSTEC nations in achieving its common goals in reducing disaster losses and explore all possible avenues of collaboration. <br/><br/>He said, India has established the Tsunami early Warning System for the Indian Ocean Rim Countries.<br/><br/>Mr Singh said, the country is making concerted efforts to reduce preventable deaths and other losses and is also analyzing the patterns of disaster mortality. <br/><br/>He said, India's effective handling of Phailin and Hudhud cyclones in the recent past is the direct outcome of over a decade of policy initiatives and enhancement of early warning capabilities, advance preparation, training and capacity development.