New Delhi, July 3 -- The India Meteorological Department (IMD) plans to ask the Indian Space Research Organisation (Isro) to build and launch two-fourth generation INSAT series satellites, helping improve the accuracy of its weather forecasting.

These new satellites will replace IMD's two third-generation INSAT satellites by 2028-29 and at cost of Rs.1,800 crore. The cost of the satellites will be paid by ministry of earth sciences, said IMD director general Mrutyunjay Mohapatra in an interview.

The upgraded satellites will give a better resolution of images and be equipped with state-of-the-art sensors for lightning forecasting, said Mohapatra.

As many as 162 people were killed by lightning strikes in March and April.

Mohapatra said,...