Four automatic weather stations and special weather services app will work round the clock giving real time details on the prevailing weather conditions and forecasts for next three days for the benefit of the people visiting the city during the much-touted Kumbh Mela in Prayagraj.

Union Earth Sciences Minister Dr Harsh Vardhan on Monday launched the special weather service for the mega event, which includes setting up of four automatic weather stations (AWS) and a mobile app.

The purpose of this service is to provide information of the prevailing weather and forecasts for the next three days, Dr Harsh Vardhan told reporters here after the launch of the app to be available on android mobile phones.

“The real-time location specific weather information will not only be very helpful for the local and state authorities in the efficient management of the entire event but also benefit the pilgrims by keeping them abreast of the latest weather information. It will disseminate the live weather information (temperature, humidity, rainfall and winds) as observed in all the above four sites,” said Dr. Harsh Vardhan.

The observation sites are distributed in all four directions within the radius of 5-10 kilometres and are located at the Allahabad University, Delhi Public School, GB Panth Institute of Social Science and Sam Higginbottom University of Agriculture, Technology and Sciences (SHUATS).

The mobile app named ‘KumbhMela Weather Service’ has also been developed to disseminate the live weather information on temperature, humidity, rainfall and winds. In addition, the app will also provide weather forecasts and warnings for Allahabad for the next three days.

“The real time location specific weather information will be very helpful for the local and state authorities in the efficient management of the entire event,” the minister said.

The Kumbh starts from Tuesday and will continue until March. The congregation is attended by lakhs of pilgrims.