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Now, weather forecast just a phone call away

BHUBANESWAR: Want to know about the fast changing weather condition around you beforehand then you don’t have to sit before your television set till the end of a news bulletin. Just pick up your phone and dial 0674-2596013 or 2596019, computer-fed voices will inform you about weather systems such as heat wave or formation of low pressure area or rainfall, whatever and whenever you wish. Bhubaneswar Meteorological Centre has already installed Interactive Voice Response System (IVRS) for disseminating weather related information among public on round-the-clock basis.

“Orissa is prone to hazardous weather conditions. The system will help general public schedule their future programme in advance and make people cautious during extreme weather conditions such as heat wave and cold wave,” Director of Bhubaneswar Met office S. C. Sahu said here on Friday.

Installation of IVRS was part of a modernisation programmes taken up by Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) across the country. Bhubaneswar Met office was among the first 10 centres where the system was being experimented, Dr. Sahu said.

“Right now, we are providing weather information for next 24 hours in advance. After technological upgradation, we will be able to provide information about 48 hours or 72 hours beforehand,” he said.

The information is available in English, Hindi and Oriya. Moreover, anybody from distant places in the State who wants to know about weather condition prevailing in his area is required to dial that region’s STD code following the instructions from IRVS. In an attempt to reach out to farmers with weather information, the centre plans to disseminate district-wise rainfall data from June this year. It has collaborated with the State Agriculture Department, Krishi Vigyan Kendras and agrometeorology department of Orissa University of Agriculture Technology for the purpose.

“In this exercise, our main target will be farmers. Dissemination of district wise rainfall data will help them farmers chalk out their agricultural plan,” the director said.

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