Jammu, Feb 20: The Jammu and Kashmir government on Friday announced that the India Meteorological Department (IMD) is set to roll out a hyper-local weather forecasting system for Himalayan states, with Ramban and Kishtwar among seven districts identified for focused intervention. The initiative aims to enhance early warnings, particularly for cloudburst-triggered rainfall and flash floods.
In a written reply to National Conference MLA Sajad Shaheen in the Assembly, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah said vulnerability mapping has been conducted using 15 years of data on cloudbursts, landslides and flash floods compiled by the Meteorological Centre in Srinagar. Districts have been categorised into high, medium and low-risk groups based on casualties and infrastructure losses.
Expanded radar and monitoring network
The IMD plans to install four additional Doppler weather radars and 34 automatic weather stations and snow gauges across the Union Territory. Currently, three X-band radars operate in Srinagar, Jammu and Banihal. The new radar installations are proposed for Doda, Rajouri, Anantnag and Baramulla to improve coverage and early warning capabilities.
Additionally, 26 automatic weather stations and eight snow gauges are proposed for remote and hilly areas, including Kishtwar, Doda, Ramban, Rajouri, Udhampur, Kupwara, Bandipora, Baramulla and Shopian. The expanded observational infrastructure is expected to significantly strengthen disaster preparedness for hydro meteorological events.
District-wise vulnerability assessment
In Jammu division, Kishtwar, Doda, Ramban, Reasi and Udhampur have been classified as highly vulnerable, while Rajouri, Poonch and Kathua fall in the medium risk category. Jammu and Samba are categorised as low vulnerability districts.
In Kashmir division, Anantnag, Kulgam and Ganderbal are marked high-risk; Budgam, Shopian and Pulwama medium-risk; and Srinagar, Baramulla, Kupwara and Bandipora low-risk.
Long-term mitigation measures
The Public Works (R&D) Department has initiated slope stabilisation and disaster-resilient construction measures to protect roads and bridges from flash floods and landslides. These include retaining walls, gabion structures and bio-engineering techniques. Updated hydrological and geotechnical studies are being incorporated into project planning, with priority given to vulnerable locations.
The Union Ministry of Home Affairs had deputed an inter-ministerial central team in September 2025 to assess flood-related damage. A memorandum detailing losses was submitted in November 2025, followed by a post-disaster needs assessment by the National Disaster Management Authority.
An expert committee for Hazard, Vulnerability and Risk Assessment (HVRA) has also been constituted to prepare a multi-hazard risk atlas and integrate scientific risk mapping into governance and planning frameworks.