IMD's predictions in Karnataka are often inaccurate. Here's why
What's the story
The Met Department (IMD) is India's main agency for meteorological observations, weather forecasting and seismology.
It's a worrisome moment when even their records are inaccurate. But this seems to be an issue in many places of Karnataka.
At Hulikal, Karnataka's wettest place, the rain gauge is faulty, like at 10 other IMD centers in the state.
The basic problem is lack of land.
Details
Land required to record rain, wind, obstruction by trees: IMD
A 5x5 land plot is all IMD needs; economically-weaker sections are given residential plots bigger than that.
"Unlike other departments, there's no law to provide land for weather observatories in Karnataka," said Raja Ramesh, meteorologist, adding land is needed to record rain, wind speed and more.
But in current circumstances, IMD has to depend on plots of gram panchayats, public health-centers or other government-agencies.
Sad situation
Most rain gauges at 5,600 sites in Karnataka are faulty
Lack of space or shifting of weather-measuring equipment affect predictions, said an IMD meteorologist.
IMD owns 310 rain-gauge stations, of which three are in Bengaluru.
Karnataka's Natural Disaster Monitoring Centre said their rain gauges at 5,600 sites face the same problem since they are stationed at other government offices; they get uprooted if the office expands premises.
Both agencies are hoping for fast solution.