J&K lacks equipment for cloudburst forecast

State lacks equipment for cloudburst forecast
Archit Watts
Tribune News Service

The Shortcoming

We don’t have a Doppler Weather Radar in the state, which is an effective tool for the forecast of a cloudburst. Though we have written a number of times to the higher authorities demanding two radars each in Jammu and Srinagar, nothing has happened — Sonam Lotus, in charge of Indian Meteorological Department

Jammu, June 9
The loss of life and property in the cloudburst in Doda district last evening could have been averted had the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) taken timely steps and installed modern weather forecasting equipment in the state.

Even after the cloudburst of Leh last year in which nearly 179 persons were killed and about 400 injured, the state office of the IMD continues to be without any equipment to forecast a cloudburst.

Talking to The Tribune over the phone, Sonam Lotus, in charge of the state office of the IMD, said, “We are not well- equipped and can’t forecast a cloudburst. The equipment available with the department can forecast temperature and rain only”.

He added that, “We don’t have a Doppler Weather Radar in the state, which is an effective tool for the forecast of a cloudburst. Though we have written a number of times to the higher authorities demanding two radars each in Jammu and Srinagar, nothing has happened”.

Sonam said the state government was slow in taking action. “No one here pays any attention to weather forecasting. We get calls only about rain and nothing else,” he said.

“Though almost 24 hours have passed since the cloudburst in Doda district, we have not received any official information from the state government. I came to know about the incident from newspapers and TV channels. You can understand the situation”.

Sonam said they had issued a warning of heavy rain before the cloudburst in Leh, but they didn’t have even a weather forecasting station in Doda. “We are completely out of touch as of now and don’t have any information about the loss of life and property in the Doda cloudburst,” he said.

Explaining a cloudburst, Sonam said, “A cloudburst means 100 mm of rain per hour. It lasts for almost 15-20 minutes and affects 2-3 sq km area”. .

Prof Sanjay Sharma, Department of Environment Science, University of Jammu, said, “Though we can’t stop a cloudburst, its timely forecast can help minimise its impact.

The areas having more vegetation have lesser impact of a cloudburst.Hence, the government should think of a plantation drive, as plants check soil erosion”.

Courtesy: The Tribune