Balasore will get India’s first thunderstorm research testbed

BHUBHANESHWAR: The India Meteorological Department (IMD), in collaboration with the Ministry of Earth Sciences, Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), and Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), is all set to establish India’s first thunderstorm research testbed at Balasore, Odisha. The testbed is currently in planning stage and is expected to be fully operation in the next five years.

The aim of the development of such facility is to reduce fatalities and loss of property due to lightening in Odisha and other states lying in Eastern coast. According to officials, more than 350 people lose their lives on an average in lightning strikes in Odisha every year. The state has reported to have lost around 3,218 lives to lightning strikes in nine years till 2019-20.

Dr Mrutyunjay Mohapatra, Director General of Meteorology, IMD, said that the new facility will be developed at IMD’s observation centre in Balasore as the IMD, ISRO and DRDO already have their units in Balasore. He added that observatories will be set up to cater to nearby areas and studies on thunderstorms will be conducted on the testbed.

IMD stated that the current methods of observation and studying the characteristics of growth, movement, and conditions which lead to decaying of the storm is not adequate and requires enhancement. Mohapatra added that the new research unit will be equipped with augmented observational systems like radar, wind profiler, microwave radiometer and automatic weather stations to study Nor’westers or the Kalbaishakhi  thunderstorms in Odisha, West Bengal, Jharkhand and Bihar. Advanced observational systems are also to be installed in north Odisha, West Bengal and Jharkhand to facilitate the research further.