Siksha ‘O’ Anusandhan (SOA), a prominent private university in Odisha, has forged a strategic partnership with the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM) based in Pune. This collaboration aims to significantly enhance the lightning detection network across eight key locations in Odisha, including Bhubaneswar, Balasore, Sambalpur, Rayagada, Berhampur, Keonjhar, Balangir, and Angul, covering a radius of 100 kilometers.
Objectives of the MoU
The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) outlines IITM’s role in bolstering Odisha’s lightning detection capabilities. It involves collaboration with the India Meteorological Department (IMD), Bhubaneswar, to operationalize forecasts for thunderstorm occurrence and associated lightning at the block and Grama Panchayat levels. Additionally, the partnership aims to address flash droughts in western Odisha through advanced forecasting techniques.
Joint Research Initiatives
SOA and IITM will collaborate closely on research and development initiatives focused on lightning and thunderstorm phenomena. This includes joint guidance for research students, conducting experiments, and publishing scientific papers regularly. SOA’s existing centers—Centre for Environment and Climate (CEC) and Centre for Climate Smart Agriculture (CCSA)—will play pivotal roles in these efforts, focusing on understanding climate impacts on agriculture.
Significance of the Collaboration
The MoU, signed by IITM Director R. Krishnan and SOA Vice-Chancellor Prof. Pradipta Kumar Nanda, underscores the commitment to leveraging scientific research for community benefit. It highlights ongoing efforts to predict thunderstorms and lightning more accurately across Odisha, aiming to reduce lightning-related casualties through enhanced public awareness and dissemination of forecasting data.
Future Endeavors and Community Engagement
Efforts will extend to integrating the DAMINI network—an app-based lightning monitoring system—with Odisha State Disaster Management Authority (OSDMA) and Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVK). This collaboration seeks to improve early warning systems and mitigate risks associated with lightning strikes, particularly in vulnerable regions of Odisha.
