THREAT FROM SKY
- With the help of the sensors, the firm will provide early warning on lightning and thunderstorm alerts
- Earth Networks has the expertise to provide early lightning warning services and operates in around 50 countries
- The warning system would predict lightning about 45 minutes in advance
- Around 460 lives were lost in 2017-18 due to lightning, which recorded a 15 per cent increase over that in the previous year
Bhubaneswar: In a bid to protect lives from lightning and hailstorms, the state government Wednesday signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the US-based firm Earth Networks to install lightning detection and warning systems in the state.
Managing Director of Odisha State Disaster Management Authority (OSDMA) Bishnupada Sethi signed the MoU with Earth Networks in the presence of Revenue and Disaster Management Minister Maheswar Mohanty here.
With the help of the sensors, the firm will provide early warning on lightning and thunderstorm alerts. Earth Networks has the expertise to provide early lightning warning services and operates in around 50 countries. It is also providing services to West Bengal, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh, said an official.
Earth Networks already has lightning sensors in the region and will install additional sensors in Odisha to cover the entire state. The warning system would predict lightning about 45 minutes in advance, the official stated.
The system would also be helpful in prediction of hail winds and hailstorms. Highly accurate forecasts can be provided with precise location of the area likely to be affected. This will facilitate dissemination of early warnings through mobile-based applications to the people of the localities enabling them to take precautionary measures.
Lightning has emerged as a major threat recently. Around 460 lives were lost in 2017-18 due to lightning, which recorded a 15 per cent increase over that in the previous year.
The state government has listed lightning as a state-specific disaster enabling dependants of victims to get Rs 4 lakh as compensation.
Besides raising awareness among people about disaster and sharing safety tips, the state government is making all-out efforts to minimise deaths through technological interventions, the official added.