Bhubaneswar: Odisha government Wednesday signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with US-based Earth Networks for installation of advance early weather warning and forecast system in the State.
The weather system by the US-based firm can predict occurrence of lightning about 45 minutes in advance besides forecasting accurate alert for hail winds, hail storms and dangerous thunderstorms.
OSDMA's managing director, Bishnupada Sethi signed the MoU with Earth Networks in presence of Revenue and Disaster Management Minister Maheswar Mohanty today.
Official sources said, Earth Networks is already having lighthing sensors in the region and will install additional sensors in Odisha.
As the highly accurate forecasts can be provided with precise location of the area likely to be affected, it can help State authorities to take subsesquent measures to alert people to move to safer places.
The system will also facilitate dissemination of early warning through mass messaging and mobile based application to people of possible lightning strike zones. The advance warning can help in saving loss of life and property as people can be asked to move to safer places.