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NEW DELHI: The government has extended invitations to officials from countries that were part of undivided India at the time to mark 150 years of the India Meteorological Department, established in 1875. This includes officials from Pakistan, Afghanistan, Myanmar, Bhutan, Maldives, Sri Lanka, and Nepal.
Representatives from the Middle East and Southwest Asia have also been invited to join the celebrations.
Pakistan has confirmed its participation, while the IMD awaits confirmation from Bangladesh.
A senior IMD official said, “We wanted officials from all countries that were part of undivided India during IMD’s establishment to be part of the celebrations.”
The celebrations will include a variety of events such as marathons, exhibitions, workshops, and olympiads. To commemorate the occasion, the finance ministry has also approved a special Rs 150 commemorative coin.
Adding to the festivities, the IMD will showcase its first-ever tableau during the Republic Day parade, highlighting its legacy and contributions to meteorology.
Born out of necessity during the British era after the devastating Calcutta cyclone of 1864 and multiple monsoon failures, the IMD began as modest weather forecasting entity. Over 150 years, it has grown into a global leader in meteorological research, weather communication, and forecasting.
In its early years, the IMD used telegrams to send weather warnings. Over time, it embraced cutting-edge technology, pioneering the use of electronic computers for meteorological research and introducing India’s first message-switching computer for global data exchange.
India also made history as the first developing country to launch its geostationary satellite, INSAT, enabling round-the-clock weather monitoring and cyclone alerts.
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