The demand for installation of Doppler radars which had arisen after the 2013 disaster is likely to be met in the near future. According to officials, the task of installing the Doppler radars in Uttarakhand is expected to start within six months. This will enable in-depth study of clouds and also help the meteorological Centre to predict heavy rainfall and issue more accurate warnings of the potential for the cloudburst.
Talking to The Pioneer, the State Meteorological Centre director Bikram Singh said, “Considering the requirements, three Western Himalayan including Uttarakhand, Jammu and Kashmir and Himachal Pradesh have been selected for installation of Doppler radars. Uttarakhand may get its first radar in the coming six months. We have asked for three radars for the State. These will be installed at Mussoorie, Nainital or Mukteshwar and Pithoragarh or Chamoli.”
He, further, informed that the proposal for purchasing the radars has been approved by the Central Government. The process of financial bidding and purchase is under process. Such specialised equipment is made on demand so the process may take time. Uttarakhand is expected to get all the three approved Doppler radars by 2020, he added.
Singh said that the Doppler radar is capable of recording more in-depth data about the clouds and their capacity. “These radars are devices for observation and not for prediction. This equipment covers less area but gives more data about the type of clouds and their potential for rain. They are effective in ascertaining the vertical extent of clouds and information about the precipitation. This can help us to be more accurate about the places which are going to have a major event. We can issue an alert for half an hour to one hour before very heavy rainfall which can be helpful for damage control. These radars can help us to be more accurate and reduce damage especially during the monsoon season,” he added.
He, further, informed that Uttarakhand is prone to experience spells of very heavy rainfall, especially during monsoon or pre-monsoon period. At present, forecast related information based on cloud observations is received from Delhi and Patiala through a limited area of Uttarakhand is covered by such observations. This problem will be resolved once the state gets its own Doppler radars, he said.