US-based company to set up 14 outdoor lightning alert systems in State

Surjit kumar Dhal, Bhubaneswar, Feb 21: US-based company Earth Networks will establish the outdoor lightning alerting system in 14 most lighting prone blocks of the State as a pilot basis.

The system is a patented design representing a new generation of omni-directional sirens and alerting systems and the professional grade components make it virtually maintenance free, said official sources.

The system provides 360 degrees of audible and visual coverage with high decibel horns and strobe lights, ensuring attention getting signals and maximum coverage. The lightning alert system  would pinpoint the exact locations of storms and provide automatic warning through siren systems and it can be audible upto a distance of 1 km radius.

Notably, the causalities due to the lightning recorded highest among all the natural calamities and on an average 400 people die every year in Odisha.

The total number of reported deaths due to lightning during last three years-from 2015-16 to 2017-18- is 1256 which accounts about 27 per cent of total number of disaster deaths.

Concerning over the more lightning deaths in the state, OSDMA has made collaboration with the USA-based firm “Earth Networks” to install lightning detection systems in Odisha.

Six lightning detection sensors have been installed at different locations to cover the entire state. The system gives prediction of the lightning about 30-45 minutes in advance.

Earth Networks provides map based lightning alerts for the state and the alerts are being received at SEOC and OSDMA for further disseminated to the public in different modes.

The thunderstorm and lightning cannot be predicted sufficiently ahead of the incident, which makes the biggest challenge to warn the people within the shortest time.

Though lightning warnings are available just 30 min before the incident, it is necessary to adopt better strategy for dissemination of warning to the general public within a shortest possible time.

Hence, it has been decided to establish an intelligent and automated system such as the Outdoor Alerting Siren System for quickly dissemination of warning.

The systems will be installed in Bhadrak and Chandbali Blocks of Bhadrak district, Remuna and Jaleswar and Bhograi Blocks of Balasore district, Keonjhar and Ghasipura Blocks of Keonjhar district, Tangi-Choudwar and Athagarh Blocks of Cuttack district, Thakurmunda and Suliapada Blocks of Mayunbhanj district, Tangi Block in Khorda district, Kodinga Block in Nabarangpur, Sundargarh Block in Sundargarh district.