IMD to set up 24 automatic weather stations across Tripura

Agartala, Jan 20, 2025, By Our Correspondent51

150th Anniversary Celebration of the India Meteorological Department at Met Centre Agartala

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) celebrated its 150th anniversary with a series of events organized at the Met Centre Agartala, showcasing and promoting meteorological services. Among the events, a dedicated workshop for media personnel and an exhibition focusing on the tools and functioning of the Met Centre stood out, creating an immersive and informative experience.

Dr. Partha Roy, Head of the Meteorological Centre Agartala, addressed the gathering and spoke about significant advancements in meteorological technology and its impact on weather forecasting accuracy. He highlighted the integration of new satellite and radar products, which have improved the accuracy of weather forecasts to 50-60 percent overall and 80-85 percent for aviation forecasts. "The accuracy in both weather and aviation forecasts has significantly improved over the past few years, thanks to an overall strengthening of our meteorological observation network across the state. Improved observational infrastructure has helped in raising the rate of accuracy," he said.

Dr. Roy also outlined the department's future plans to enhance meteorological services across Tripura. "The department is set to establish 24 automatic weather stations throughout the state. Additionally, under the Mission Mausam project, one more Doppler weather radar will be set up in South Tripura, and a wind profile radar will also be established," said Dr. Roy. He further added, "The agency aims to ensure that at the block level, its forecasts for all severe weather phenomena up to three days in advance are 'zero-error' by 2047. With better monitoring and timely issuance of warnings, the department aims to ensure that the loss of human lives due to severe weather events is brought to zero. We will also try to improve the resolution of our weather models to provide weather information at the panchayat level."

At the workshop, experts Adityaraj Verma, Nabarun Purkayastha, and Malay Pal shared valuable information related to meteorological services in Tripura. An exhibition featuring various weather-related exhibits was also a highlight of the event, with Rana Das and Mridul Chanda providing detailed explanations.

Ruma Pal, the only female Meteorological Scientist from Tripura who has been serving at the Met Centre Agartala for the past 32 years, proposed the vote of thanks. Urging women from the state to take an interest in Meteorology, she said, "The successful 150 years of IMD underscores the commitment of the Department to advancing its services and fostering greater awareness about the importance of meteorology in day-to-day life."