The flooded Patna-Masaurhi Road on Monday Photo by Kumar Jainendra
By Dheeraj Kumar
Patna: A day after Chief Minister Nitish Kumar raised question mark over accuracy of Indian Meteorological Department (IMD)`s forecast over rainfall, IMD today claimed that it had made its weather forecast accurate and precise through application of modern technology.
IMD, Patna Director (In charge) Anand Shankar refusing to respond to chief minister Mr Kumar`s remark by saying “I do not know what CM has stated but I can say that IMD gives its weather forecast through application of modern technology”.
Shankar said IMD in its weather forecast had predicted on September 19 itself that Bihar would record rainfall more than average this year. In its forecast on September 26, IMD had predicted that there would be heavy downpour for four days till September 29. He said now Bihar would witness normal to moderate rainfall only.
“IMD is a national agency and is well equipped to make accurate and precise weather forecast, he remarked.
Shankar said that IMD, Patna was updating officers of disaster management department and other authorities concerned on weather forecast and even a video conferencing meeting was held with district magistrates of districts concerned on September 26 in view of the forecast. He said three sensors were installed at IMD, Patna for measuring rainfall and there was also Doppler weather radar installed at the office for making weather forecast for the entire state. Similarly, situation is being monitored with the help of images sent by two satellites and super computers and also data is shared with world meteorological organisation (WMO).
As it is, CM had told newspersons yesterday that even IMD had to revise its forecast on rainfall. IMD was earlier telling there would not be rainfall after September 26 but state had so much of rainfall now.
