Picture: Hon'ble Minister Dr Harsh Vardhan inaugurated the new meteorological centre at Leh through a virtual event web-casted live from New Delhi (left) and the new meteorological centre at Leh (right).

The Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES) launched a new Meteorological Centre in Leh. Situated at ~3,500 meters above sea level, the facility is the country's highest meteorological centre. It was inaugurated by the Hon'ble Minister of Science and Technology, Health and Family Welfare, and Earth Sciences, Dr Harsh Vardhan through a virtual event web-cast live from New Delhi. He dedicated the facility to the people of Leh and Ladakh.

India presently has 28 meteorological centres spread across the country. These centres serve to provide accurate and timely weather-related informations to India Meteorological Department (IMD), which is the principal agency responsible for meteorological observations and weather forecasting in the country.

Dr M Rajeevan Nair, Secretary, MoES expressed that the state-of-the-art new meteorological centre at Leh will benefit multiple sectors such as tourism, defence services, and disaster management for Leh-Ladakh region of the country by providing accurate and timely weather-related information.

India presently has 28 meteorological centres spread across the country. These centres serve to provide accurate and timely weather-related informations to India Meteorological Department (IMD), which is the principal agency responsible for meteorological observations and weather forecasting in the country.

Leh-Ladakh region experiences several extreme weather-related phenomena such as heavy rainfall, heavy snowfall, cloud burst, etc. The new meteorological centre will provide weather forecasts over short (3 days), medium (12 days) and extended (1 month) periods, with regular updates to all stakeholders.

Hon'ble Member of Parliament from Ladakh, Shri Jamyang Tsering Namgyal and Lieutenant Governor of Ladakh, Shri R K Mathur were the guests of honour. Dr M Mohapatra, Director General, IMD, Dr Vipin Chandra, Joint Secretary, MoES; and Shri Gopal Iyengar, Scientist, MoES also graced the occasion. "The plan is to set up ten weather stations and display facility going forward", informed Dr Anand Sharma, Scientist G and Head of the Regional Meteorological Centre, New Delhi who coordinated the event from Leh. The meteorological centre at Leh will be headed by Shri Sonam Lotus, Scientist E, IMD.

IMD is under the MoES, Government of India.

India Science Wire

ISW/JS/31/12/2020