Predicting thunderstorm and lightning might be a possibility soon by studying satellite and radar images and collating data from several other sources
KJ Ramesh, DG of meteorology, IMD
Bhubaneswar: The Union government is developing a Common Alert Protocol (CAP) system to warn people about impending thunderstorm and lightning strikes, which account for the second highest number of natural disaster deaths in India, said KJ Ramesh, the director general of meteorology, Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) here Thursday evening.
Ramesh said predicting thunderstorm and lightning might be a possibility soon by studying satellite and radar images and collating data from several other sources.
“The CAP model has already been tested successfully. A message can be pushed into all active cell phones in a particular area, alerting people about the possibility of lightning,” Ramesh stated at a three-day international conference which began here Thursday.
The top IMD official also complimented the Odisha government for talking ‘proactive steps’ in building proper infrastructure to ensure safety of its people during natural hazards.
“The Odisha government has been trying to improve matters and working closely with the IMD. The state administration has built a large number of cyclone shelters along the coastal areas,” he stated, adding that the media would need to play a crucial role in creating awareness on natural calamities.
Inaugurating the meet, Odisha’s Higher Education and Industries Minister Ananta Das urged researchers to find solutions to nature’s fury as lightning alone led to 1,560 deaths in the state in the last four years.
The conference, attended by over 200 scientists, researchers, academicians, planners and other stakeholders from abroad, including the US and South Africa, has been jointly organised by OSDMA and the Centre for Environment and Climate (CEC), in collaboration with other institutes.