The State Government on Wednesday signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with US-based company Earth Networks for installing lightning sensors across the State to forecast lightning strikes in advance.
Odisha State Disaster Management Authority (OSDMA) Managing Director Bishnupada Sethi signed the MoU with Earth Networks executives here in the presence of Revenue and Disaster Management Minister Maheswar Mohanty for setting up of lightning detection and warning system, which will alert lightning strike before 45 minutes of the occurrence.
The Minister said, “460 people have been killed in lightning strikes in the State this year. “With the help of the lightning sensors, we will be able to alert the people about early warning of lightening through mass messaging and mobile-based application.”
The development would certainly help reduce death toll due to the lightning in the State. Besides, the weather system can predict occurrence of lightning about 45 minutes in advance besides forecasting accurate alert for hail winds, hail storms and dangerous thunderstorms. The advance warning can help in saving loss of life and property as people can be asked to move to safer places from the danger zones.