Union Minister Dr Jitendra Singh inaugurated a new Seismological Observatory in Kishtwar on November 2, 2026, highlighting the expansion of scientific and weather monitoring infrastructure across Jammu and Kashmir. Established under the Ministry of Earth Sciences, the facility will strengthen earthquake monitoring and support disaster preparedness in the region’s high seismic zone.
The observatory is equipped with digital seismic equipment that will transmit data in real time to the 24×7 Earthquake Monitoring Centre of the National Centre for Seismology in New Delhi.
With this addition, Jammu and Kashmir now has four Seismological Observatories, located in Jammu, Srinagar, Udhampur and Kishtwar. The new facility will continuously monitor seismic activity and generate information to help authorities understand regional earthquake hazards, plan safer infrastructure and improve responses by district administrations and rescue teams.
Addressing the gathering, Dr Jitendra Singh highlighted the expansion of meteorological infrastructure since 2014, particularly in the erstwhile Doda district. He also referred to additional installations following the Chasoti cloudburst tragedy last year.
Doppler Weather Radar Network to Expand to Eight Installations
The Minister said the India Meteorological Department (IMD) had significantly expanded its weather monitoring network in Jammu and Kashmir.
In 2014, the region had no Doppler Weather Radar installations. Since then, four radars have been installed at Banihal, Jot, Jammu and Srinagar. Another four are scheduled for commissioning in 2027 at Doda, Kishtwar, Anantnag and Baramulla, taking the total number to eight.
Dr Jitendra Singh also highlighted the expansion of the Automatic Weather Station network. From three stations previously located in Udhampur, Kathua and Ramban, the network has grown to 12 following the addition of nine stations.
The current distribution includes four stations in Kishtwar, two each in Doda and Ramban, and one in Kathua, alongside the existing network.
Rainfall Monitoring and Panchayat-Level Weather Services Expanded
The rainfall monitoring network has also expanded across the five districts of the parliamentary constituency. The number of Rain Gauge Stations has increased from nine to 15, providing regular rainfall information and strengthening local weather monitoring.
The Minister further stated that weather forecasts are now disseminated at the Panchayat level across all Panchayats in the five districts. Weather forecast and agrometeorological advisory services have reached 5,467 beneficiaries.
Other meteorological facilities in the region include the High-Altitude Cloud Physics Laboratory at Patnitop and the Regional Meteorological Centre established in Jammu to provide weather and early warning services.
According to Dr Jitendra Singh, the expansion of scientific infrastructure has been guided by the region’s geographical vulnerabilities and the need to improve early warning systems in areas exposed to earthquakes, landslides and weather-related hazards.
Minister Urges Public to Follow Scientific Weather Warnings
Emphasising the importance of public cooperation, the Minister said that timely weather information could help save lives only when people followed official warnings and advisories.
He recalled an instance in which traffic restrictions were imposed following a weather alert, with subsequent damage to the highway demonstrating the importance of acting on advance warnings.
“Information is important, but following the information is equally important,” he emphasised, urging citizens to cooperate with the administration during weather alerts.
He also called for greater reliance on scientific and evidence-based communication to counter unverified and alarmist information about weather conditions and predictions.
The Minister highlighted the opportunities created by digital information platforms and social media, particularly for young people in remote areas, and encouraged them to use these opportunities constructively.
Officials Highlight Regional Infrastructure Development
The event was attended by Dr Srinivasa Kumar Tummala, Secretary of the Ministry of Earth Sciences, senior scientist Suresh, MLA Padder-Nagseni and Leader of Opposition in the J&K Legislative Assembly Sunil Sharma, Kishtwar MLA Shagun Parihar, Deputy Commissioner Pankaj Sharma and SSP Sunny Gupta, among other dignitaries.
Dr Jitendra Singh also referred to improvements in regional connectivity and the development of Kishtwar as a major power hub, highlighting ongoing efforts to strengthen scientific and infrastructure capabilities alongside public safety.
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