Meteorological Department in J&K will be utilising hi-tech Doppler radar system for the first time during this year’s AmarnathYatra to issue more ‘accurate and impact-based’ weather forecasts.
Speaking with Greater Kashmir, Director MeT, Sonam Lotussaid it will be for the first time that ‘impact based’ weather forecasts willbe issued for the smooth conduct of the Yatra.
“The impact based forecast will predict what exactly willhappen in case of inclement weather. It will not just predict a wet spell buteven its intensity which will be useful for the conduct of the Yatra,” Lotussaid.
The annual AmarnathYatra often gets stalled due to heavyrainfall as the Yatris cannot move towards the cave shrine in inclementweather. Lotus said the main Doppler weather radar system for the Yatra will beinstalled at Banihal, apart from the one to be installed at Sonamarg.
“We will be installing an X-Band radar which is quite uniquefor determining accurate weather forecasts. It has a range of almost 100kilometers up to which it forecasts weather,” Lotus said. He said the radarbeing installed at Banihal will be helpful in predicting the weather conditionson the 270-kilometer Srinagar-Jammu National Highway which is the key route forYatris. “This radar will cover the entire Pir Panchal range and the weatheractivity on this side of the Banihal tunnel which is quite significant,” hesaid.
The need for accurate weather forecasting during theAmarnathYatra was also discussed recently during a meeting chaired byDivisional Commissioner Kashmir, Baseer Ahmad Khan. As per the minutes of themeeting, MeT department has been asked to install special weather forecastingsystem and 4-5 Automatic Weather Forecasting stations on both routes of theYatra. Besides, two offices of the MeT Department will be established at Baltaland Pahalgam in which update of forecasting will be displayed for theconvenience of the Yatris.
It may be mentioned that service of a hi-tech mobileforecast device was used on trail basis during last year’s AmarnathYatra. “Thedevotees and local administration organising the annual Yatra got more frequentand accurate weather updates and weather alerts with the help of the mobileforecast,” MeT officials said adding that they are expecting to issue’more accurate’ weather forecasts this year.