Madhya Pradesh govt ignored advance storm warning for Ujjain

BHOPAL: State government had advance information of the approaching storm in Ujjain on Thursday but it seemed to have ignored the warning issued by the Bhopal circle of India Meteorological Department.
Talking to TOI, director of the IMD office Bhopal Anupam Kashyapi said, “from Wednesday onwards we were issuing forecast for thundery activities, rain and thundershower.We also forecast hailstorm and advised people not to go out as lightning may strike with high velocity winds of 40 to 50 kms per hour.”
He said for Ujjain, the forecast is being done five days in advance.
In view of the importance of Simhastha, IMD Bhopal created a special link mahakumbhsimhastha2016 on its the website www.imd.gov.in and are giving special forecast for Ujjain.
He said the Doppler radar of the local weather office is working round the clock and we are feeding information on the website accordingly.
On Thursday noon, Kashyapi said, he along with his office was in touch with district administration in Ujjain and told them about the approaching storm.
“Basically it is pre-monsoon time and the warning should have taken seriously,” he said.
When asked whether the loss in Ujjain would have been avoided, he said, “my job is to provide accurate forecast and we did. The administration should have taken special measures.”
The link mahakumbhasimhastha2016 provides information of other cities of the state including Bhopal, Indore, Ratlam and Gwalior along with Ujjain.
It also provdes information of the weather conditions at the panchkoshi yatra route in which lakhs of people take part. The yatra began two days ago.