Sambalpur Gets New Doppler Radar to Strengthen Weather Forecasting in Western Odisha
Manoj Kanta Dash,Odishabarta
SAMBALPUR, Sept. 17: A new Doppler weather radar centre was inaugurated at Jamadarpali in Sambalpur to strengthen weather monitoring and improve forecasting of severe weather events across western Odisha.
Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, Revenue and Disaster Management Minister Suresh Pujari, Odisha BJP president Manmohan Samal and India Meteorological Department (IMD) Director General Mrutyunjay Mohapatra attended the inauguration programme.
The five-storey radar centre houses a state-of-the-art C-band Doppler Weather Radar, with an operational range of around 250 km radius. The facility is expected to improve weather surveillance across nearly 10 districts of western Odisha.
The radar will enable the authorities to closely monitor developing weather systems and provide more timely and accurate information on lightning, thunderstorms, heavy rainfall and storms.
The enhanced forecasting capability is expected to support better preparedness, early warnings and disaster-response measures.
The facility will also play an important role in monitoring rainfall in the catchment area of the Hirakud reservoir. More accurate rainfall estimates can help authorities assess reservoir inflows and improve water management, flood forecasting and disaster-control measures.
Speaking at the programme, IMD Director General Mrutyunjay Mohapatra thanked the state and central governments for their cooperation in establishing the radar facility.
The new radar is expected to strengthen Odisha’s weather-observation network and improve early warning capabilities, particularly in western districts that are vulnerable to heavy rainfall, thunderstorms and other extreme weather events.
