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Himachal Joins Central Experts to Plan Flood Forecasting and Monitoring Network

The multi-sectoral team will conduct field visits before submitting its recommendations to the Home Ministry within a week.

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Overview

  • On July 24, Chief Secretary Prabodh Saxena and Additional Chief Secretary K K Pant met with a central multi-sectoral expert team led by NDMA advisor Col K P Singh to review monsoon disaster trends and mitigation strategies.
  • Officials advocated establishing a dedicated flood forecasting unit supported by the Central Water Commission and deploying advanced sensor networks alongside detailed glacial lake monitoring for early warnings.
  • According to state data, the current monsoon from June 20 to July 23 has produced 42 flash floods, 24 cloudbursts and 26 landslides, resulting in 77 fatalities, 34 missing persons and ₹1,382 crore in losses.
  • Presentations highlighted that since 2018 Himachal has recorded 148 cloudbursts, 294 flash floods and over 5,000 landslides, with nearly ₹10,000 crore in damages reported in 2023 alone.
  • Additional Chief Secretary K K Pant urged the revision of national disaster relief and rehabilitation norms to suit Himalayan topography and prioritized pre-disaster planning over post-event response.