IMD to set up a part-time observatory

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Every summer, more than 40 degrees Celsius temperature and cases of sun strokes are reported from Palakkad. The district which experiences high temperature variations would now get an authentic weather report. The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) is all set to establish a part-time observatory in Palakkad. According to IMD director K Santhosh, the observatory would be set up with the support of state Irrigation Department. “The observatory will come up at the Irrigation Department’s office and a State Government official would monitor the weather. An expert from IMD would impart training,” he said. The IMD observatory in Palakkad was shut down 4 years ago.“The equipment has been sent to Palakkad. Once they receive it, we will send our expert to set up the instruments and to give training,” he added. The other part-time observatory of the IMD in the state is located at Punalur. Both Punalur and Palakkad show higher variations in temperature. “Both these places have shown highest maximum temperature and lowest minimum temperatures in the past years,” Santhosh said.IMD in the state has observatories in Alappuzha, Kochi, Kannur, Karipur Airport, Kottayam, Kozhikode, Palakkad, Punalur, Thiruvananthapuram and Vellanikara. It also has four observatories in Lakshadweep.According to unconfirmed reports, mercury has touched the 40 degrees Celsius point during summer in the past years. Cases of sun strokes were also reported in the past. This year too, Palakkad has reported high temperatures from mid-February. Termed as the hottest district of the state, IMD would closely observe temperature variations in Palakkad in the coming days.