Odisha to Equip 122 Coastal Early Warning Towers with 360-Degree Cameras for Real-Time Weather Monitoring

07 Aug 2026, 09:42 by Vinay Kakkad · KalingaTV

Odisha is set to strengthen weather surveillance and disaster preparedness by installing 360-degree surveillance cameras on all Early Warning System (EWS) towers along its 573-km coastline, as the state responds to increasingly unpredictable weather patterns and the growing impact of climate change.

The upgraded surveillance network will be integrated into the state’s coastal disaster management infrastructure, allowing authorities to continuously monitor weather conditions and sea activity in real time. Officials expect the visual feed to complement existing forecasting systems, enabling quicker assessment of evolving weather events, particularly during cyclones and heavy rainfall.

Revenue and Disaster Management Minister Suresh Pujari said the decision comes at a time when Odisha is witnessing increasingly unusual weather behaviour. Referring to the recent monsoon season, he noted that several major river systems—including the Mahanadi, Salandi, Brahmani, Baitarani, Budhabalanga, Devi and Jalaka—experienced flooding simultaneously, a trend he attributed to changing weather patterns linked to climate change.

As reported by the PTI, The minister said all 122 Early Warning System towers positioned along the state’s coastline will be modernised by installing 360-degree surveillance cameras, enhancing the state’s ability to monitor coastal conditions and issue timely alerts during extreme weather events.

The surveillance upgrade is part of Odisha’s wider push to modernise its meteorological and disaster management infrastructure. The state has been expanding its weather observation network through additional Doppler Weather Radars and a large-scale rollout of Automated Weather Stations (AWS) and Automatic Rain Gauges (ARGs) to improve localised forecasting and early warning capabilities.

Providing an update on the radar network, Pujari said the Doppler Weather Radar at Sambalpur has already become operational. New radar installations at Balasore and Bhubaneswar are expected to be commissioned soon, while repair and upgradation work is underway at the existing Doppler Weather Radars in Gopalpur and Paradip. Another Doppler Weather Radar will also be installed at Puri, he added.

Doppler Weather Radars play a key role in monitoring wind movement, rainfall intensity and storm systems by measuring changes in reflected radio wave frequencies, helping meteorologists forecast cyclones, heavy rainfall and other severe weather events with greater precision.

The state’s investment in advanced weather monitoring reflects its continued focus on building resilience against natural disasters. With frequent cyclones, floods and extreme rainfall events affecting the eastern coast, Odisha has increasingly relied on technology-driven systems—including weather radars, automated monitoring stations and now enhanced coastal surveillance—to improve forecasting accuracy and emergency response.