Tura, April 30: With freak weather conditions becoming more intense with every passing year in view of climate change, the need for a sophisticated weather system in the Garo Hills has turned curcial. With this aim in mind, a joint inspection for the proposed installation of a Doppler Weather Radar (DWR) in Tura was successfully carried out at Darechikgre and Albella Peak, Albella Chidekgre marking a significant step towards strengthening weather monitoring infrastructure in the Garo Hills region.
The inspection team comprised of officials from the India Meteorological Department (IMD), SDMA, Management Authority (SDMA), Shillong, DDMA, Tura and Rongram C&RD block.
The proposed installation of the Doppler Weather Radar is expected to substantially enhance weather observation, forecasting, and early warning capabilities across Garo Hills, a region frequently impacted by severe thunderstorms, lightning, and heavy rainfall.
Key benefits of DWR include: provision of high-resolution, real-time weather data; Enhanced detection of severe weather events such as thunderstorms, lightning, and intense rainfall; Improved early warning services to support disaster preparedness; and Advanced “nowcasting” for precise, location-specific meteorological services. The DWR at Tura is being proposed under Mission Mausam, a flagship initiative of the Government of India under the Ministry of Earth Sciences.
In addition, the Director and Head of the Meteorological Centre, Shillong, informed that IMD is also planning to establish a Meteorological Observatory at Tura. This facility will support both surface and upper-air observations, further strengthening severe weather monitoring in the region. The initiative is expected to greatly benefit disaster management authorities, local administration, and the general public by enabling timely and proactive safety measures during adverse weather conditions.
Those present during the inspection included Dr. Sanjay O’Neill Shaw, Scientist ‘F’, Regional Meteorological Centre, IMD Guwahati, Shri Thangjalal Lhouvum, Director & Head, Meteorological Centre, IMD Shillong, Dr. Jasmine S. R. Marak, Block Nodal Officer, Rongram C&RD Block, Shri Jaspher Pdeng, Field Engineer, SDMA, Shri Camelius K Sangma, Field Engineer, DDMA, Tura and Gram Sevaks of Rongram Block and villagers of Darechikgre and Albella Chidekgre.
It may be mentioned that currently 48 Doppler Weather Radars are operational across India, including an X-Band DWR commissioned at Jorhat, Assam, on January 19, 2026. In Meghalaya, one DWR is currently operational at Sohra, and upon completion of the proposed installation at Albella Chidekgre, it will become the second such facility in the state.
