JAMMU, Feb 20: The India Meteorological Department (IMD) plans to introduce a hyper-local weather forecasting system in Himalayan states, with Ramban and Kishtwar districts selected from Jammu and Kashmir for focused intervention and early cloudburst warnings, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah said on Friday.
Replying to a question by NC MLA Sajad Shaheen in the Assembly, Abdullah said the National Disaster Management Authority has identified seven Himalayan districts, including the two from J&K, based on 15 years of data on cloudbursts, flash floods and landslides compiled by the Meteorological Centre Srinagar.
To strengthen early warning capability, IMD proposes four additional Doppler weather radars in J&K at Doda, Rajouri, Anantnag and Baramulla, supplementing existing X-band radars at Srinagar, Jammu and Banihal. The plan also includes 34 automatic weather stations and snow gauges, with 26 stations and eight gauges in remote areas such as Kishtwar, Doda, Ramban, Rajouri, Udhampur, Kupwara, Bandipora, Baramulla and Shopian.
District vulnerability mapping shows Kishtwar, Doda, Ramban, Reasi and Udhampur in the high-risk category in Jammu division; Rajouri, Poonch and Kathua medium; Jammu and Samba low. In Kashmir division, Anantnag, Kulgam and Ganderbal are high-risk; Budgam, Shopian and Pulwama medium; Srinagar, Baramulla, Kupwara and Bandipora low.
Abdullah said the expanded network will improve hydro-meteorological forecasting and disaster preparedness, while the Public Works Department is undertaking slope stabilisation and resilient infrastructure measures to reduce flash-flood and cloudburst damage. An expert HVRA committee has also been set up for multi-hazard risk assessment and planning integration. (Agencies)
