The Uttar Pradesh government on Saturday issued a clarification regarding the functionality of automatic weather stations (AWS) and automatic rain gauges (ARG) across the state, asserting that the weather monitoring system is largely operational. This response came after reports claimed that these devices were not functioning properly.
Government Response to Misleading Reports
UP Relief Commissioner Hrishikesh Bhaskar Yashod stated that the reports circulating in the public domain were misleading and presented an exaggerated picture of the situation. “The data and field verification confirm that the majority of the installations are working satisfactorily,” said Yashod.
Installation Details
According to official records, a total of 450 AWS have been installed at the tehsil level and 2,000 ARG at the block level across the state. The installation reports for all sites were submitted by the Hyderabad-based private agency Obel System Pvt Ltd to the department on June 26, 2024.
Non-Functional Units
Yashod acknowledged that a small number of units are currently non-functional. “At present, 54 sites — including five AWS and 49 ARG units — are not operating due to theft-related incidents, while three additional sites are affected by network connectivity issues,” he said.
Calibration and Maintenance
Calibration of the weather monitoring equipment was carried out by the firm between April and June 2025. Calibration is scheduled to be conducted both before and after the monsoon season each year. In addition, cleaning and preventive maintenance of the equipment are being undertaken on a quarterly basis.
Physical Verification by Teams
To ensure ground-level assessment, district-wise teams were constituted in October 2024 for physical verification of all AWS and ARG installations across UP. Each team included a representative from the India Meteorological Department (IMD) to examine functionality, sensor specifications and operational usability, along with a district civil engineer to assess the quality of associated civil works.
Joint Verification Reports
Joint verification reports submitted by all districts in November 2024 confirmed that the installation and functioning of the units were satisfactory. During these inspections, it was observed that 823 automatic rain gauges were installed on building rooftops, which is not in line with IMD guidelines. Subsequently, all such units were relocated to appropriate ground-level locations, and the relocation work was completed by February 2025.
IMD Data Quality Analysis
At the request of the department, IMD carried out an analysis of the data generated by AWS and ARG units across districts. In an email dated February 9, 2026, IMD confirmed that the quality of the data was satisfactory. “While isolated issues exist, the overall weather monitoring infrastructure in the state is functioning as intended,” said Yashod.
