Sambalpur: A new Doppler weather radar centre was inaugurated at Jamadarpali in Odisha's Sambalpur to strengthen weather monitoring and provide more accurate and advanced information on severe weather events in western Odisha.

Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, Revenue and Disaster Management Minister Suresh Pujari, Odisha BJP president Manmohan Samal and India Meteorological Department (IMD) Director General Mrutyunjay Mohapatra were present at the inauguration programme.

The five-storey radar centre houses a state-of-the-art C-band Doppler weather radar. With an operational range of around 250 km radius, the facility is expected to benefit nearly 10 districts of western Odisha.

The radar will enable the authorities to closely monitor weather systems and provide early and more accurate information about lightning, thunderstorms, heavy rainfall and storms. Such information is expected to help the administration improve preparedness and disaster response.

The facility will also be useful for monitoring rainfall in the catchment area of the Hirakud reservoir. Accurate rainfall estimates can help authorities assess inflows into the reservoir and improve water management and flood-control measures.

IMD Director General Mrutyunjay Mohapatra thanked both the state and central governments for their cooperation in setting up the radar facility.