Wayanad to Get X-Band Doppler Weather Radar

The India Meteorological Department will commission an X-Band Doppler Weather Radar at Pulpally in Kerala’s Wayanad district by the end of December 2026. The radar will provide high-resolution weather surveillance over a 100 km radius with Pulpally as the centre of coverage.

Doppler Weather Radar

A Doppler Weather Radar is a remote-sensing instrument that uses microwave signals to detect precipitation, wind movement, and storm structure. An X-Band radar operates at a higher frequency than S-band and C-band radars and is used for short-range, high-resolution observation of rainfall and cloudbursts.

Wayanad and Western Ghats Weather Monitoring

Wayanad lies in the Western Ghats, a mountain chain known for steep slopes, heavy monsoon rainfall, and landslide susceptibility. The district has faced repeated slope failures, including the Meppadi landslide in July 2024 that caused 298 deaths.

A landslide near the Kozhikode–Wayanad twin tunnel project site on 7 July 2026 killed seven people. A mudslide at the same site in July 2026 occurred when the existing Doppler radar in Kochi was offline for unplanned maintenance.

Installation and Administrative Framework

The land for the radar installation has been provided by Pazhassi Raja College in Pulpally. The Kerala State Disaster Management Authority has coordinated support for the project.

IMD Thiruvananthapuram director Neetha Gopal stated that trained technical and meteorological personnel of the IMD will man, operate, and maintain the radar under the Ministry of Earth Sciences.

Important Facts for Exams

• The India Meteorological Department functions under the Ministry of Earth Sciences.
• X-Band Doppler Weather Radars are used for short-range, high-resolution rainfall monitoring.
• The Western Ghats are a major landslide-prone region in India.
• Kerala State Disaster Management Authority is the state-level body for disaster preparedness and response in Kerala.

Exam-Relevant Static Facts

Doppler radars measure the velocity of precipitation particles by using the Doppler effect. Weather radars are classified by band, including X-band, C-band, and S-band, on the basis of operating frequency.