NEW DELHI, Oct 8: The Indian Metrological Department has developed systems for minimising economic losses and damages to property in cyclonic storms by issuing “impact-based cyclone warnings” for districts from the current post-monsoon season.
The cyclonic storms during the pre and post- monsoon months, particularly from October to December, especially in the Bay of Bengal, often ravage the eastern coast and damage property. “This can be minimized from this season due to the intense weather system,” the IMD Director General Mrutunjay Mohapatra said.
Speaking on “Chasing the Cyclones,” at an event organised by Indian Society of Remote Sensing’s Delhi chapter, Mohapatra said the new system would give specific warnings. For instance, if a district is to be hit by winds up to 160 kmph, it would warn about the kind of infrastructure that is likely to be damaged and these can be mapped.
Under the system, location or district-specific tailored warnings, which factor in the local population, infrastructure, settlements, land use and other elements, would be prepared and disseminated. All disaster management agencies would make extensive use of cartographic, geological and hydrological data available for the district concerned.
“With India’s growing economy, we aim to reduce the damage and economic losses caused to property and infrastructure. The dynamic, impact-based cyclone warning will be commissioned from this season”, Mohapatra added.
Until now, the IMD gave warnings about the kind of damage expected during a cyclone.
The National Disaster Management Authority is executing the project and developing a web-based Dynamic Composite Risk Atlas (Web-DCRA) in collaboration with IMD and coastal states.
Pointing out that the damage caused to infrastructure due to cyclones was increasing worldwide, Mohapatra stressed the need to learn lessons and fix the recurring mistakes. He also insisted on developing a fool-proof triggering and response mechanism with active participation from all the stakeholders. He said the IMD this cyclone season would also launch an interactive display system to forecast cyclone track and intensity on GIS platform.
The event was attended by experts from IMD, National Centre for Medium Range Weather Forecasting, Indian Air Force, Indian Navy, Central Water Commission, India Institute of Technology-Delhi, Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services, National Disaster Management Agency, National Disaster Response Force, Department of Fisheries, Punctuality Cell and the Indian Railways among others.
(Manas Dasgupta)