Doppler weather radar inaugurated in Odisha

SAMBALPUR: The much-awaited doppler weather radar (DWR) was inaugurated in Sambalpur on Wednesday. Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi inaugurated the state-of-the-art ‘Make in India’ doppler weather radar at Kainsir.

The facility is designed to provide real-time weather information and improve forecasting of thunderstorms, lightning, hailstorms, heavy rainfall and other severe weather events. Majhi said, “The doppler weather radar at Sambalpur has special regional importance. It will bring a large area of Odisha into the weather forecasting system and strengthen our capacity for timely prediction and management of natural disasters.”

He said the doppler radar at Sambalpur is the third in the state after Paradip and Gopalpur. The radar will function round the clock, providing accurate weather information within a radius of 250 km and helping track weather systems up to around 450 km.

The radar’s coverage will particularly benefit 13 districts of Sambalpur, Bargarh, Jharsuguda, Sundargarh, Deogarh, Sonepur, Balangir, Boudh, Nuapada, Angul, Kalahandi, Keonjhar and Dhenkanal besides adjoining areas of Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand.

Union Minister for Earth Sciences Jitendra Singh attended the inauguration ceremony in virtual mode. Among others, Revenue and Disaster Management Minister Suresh Pujari was present.