Kishtwar gets a seismological observatory as J&K’s weather radar network grows

A new seismological observatory has opened in Kishtwar, one of Jammu and Kashmir's high-seismic zones, giving the Union Territory four such stations.

Union Minister Jitendra Singh inaugurated it through the Ministry of Earth Sciences. It joins existing observatories at Jammu, Srinagar and Udhampur.

What it does

The observatory has digital seismic equipment and will send data in real time to the 24x7 Earthquake Monitoring Centre of the National Centre for Seismology in New Delhi. Singh said it would monitor earthquake activity continuously, improve understanding of seismic hazards, help the district administration and rescue teams respond, and support planning of safer infrastructure.

Weather network

Singh said the India Meteorological Department had expanded monitoring in the region since 2014, including after last year's Chasoti cloudburst:

• Doppler Weather Radars: from none in 2014 to four, at Banihal, Jot, Jammu and Srinagar. Four more, at Doda, Kishtwar, Anantnag and Baramulla, are to be commissioned in 2027, making eight.
• Automatic Weather Stations: from three to 12, including four in Kishtwar and two each in Doda and Ramban.
• Rain gauge stations: from nine to 15 across five districts.
• Weather forecasts now reach every panchayat in those districts, and advisory services have reached 5,467 beneficiaries.

Heeding warnings

"Information is important, but following the information is equally important," Singh said, urging people to cooperate with the administration during weather alerts. He also called for scientific, evidence-based communication to counter unverified and alarmist information.

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Source: official release by the Ministry of Earth Sciences, issued through the Press Information Bureau, Government of India (02 NOV 2026 4:23PM by PIB Delhi). Read the full official text: Dr Jitendra Singh highlights expansion of disaster preparedness and weather monitoring infrastructure with new Seismological Observatory inaugurated in high seismic region of Kishtwar.