Jammu, Feb 20 (KNO): Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Friday informed the Legislative Assembly that the India Meteorological Department (IMD) plans to expand its observational network in Jammu and Kashmir with additional doppler weather radars and automatic weather stations to improve early warning systems.
In a written reply to a question by National Conference MLA Sajad Shaheen, the Chief Minister, according to the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) said: “The National Disaster Management Authority has identified seven districts across Himalayan states for focused intervention. Ramban and Kishtwar have been selected from Jammu and Kashmir.”
He said the IMD proposes to install four additional Doppler weather radars and 34 automatic weather stations and snow gauges in the Union Territory. At present, three X-band radars are operational at Srinagar, Jammu and Banihal.
The new radars are proposed at Doda, Rajouri, Anantnag and Baramulla. In addition, 26 automatic weather stations and eight snow gauges are planned in districts including Kishtwar, Doda, Ramban, Rajouri, Udhampur, Kupwara, Bandipora, Baramulla and Shopian.
Abdullah said data on cloudbursts, flash floods and landslides over the past 15 years has been used to classify districts into high, medium and low vulnerability categories based on casualties and damage to infrastructure and agriculture.
In the Jammu division, Kishtwar, Doda, Ramban, Reasi and Udhampur fall in the high-vulnerability category. Anantnag, Kulgam and Ganderbal are classified as highly vulnerable in the Kashmir division.
He said an inter-ministerial central team deputed by the Union home ministry assessed flood-related damage in September 2025, and a memorandum was submitted in November. An expert committee has also been constituted for Hazard, Vulnerability and Risk Assessment in the Union Territory—(KNO)