Union Minister Dr Jitendra Singh inaugurates Seismological Observatory in Kishtwar to enhance seismic monitoring

Key facts

• Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science & Technology, Dr Jitendra Singh, inaugurated a new Seismological Observatory in the high seismic zone of Kishtwar on 02 November 2026.
• The new observatory is equipped with digital seismic equipment that transmits real-time data to the 24x7 Earthquake Monitoring Centre of the National Centre for Seismology (NCS) in New Delhi.
• With the establishment of the Kishtwar facility, Jammu and Kashmir now has four Seismological Observatories, including those at Jammu, Srinagar, and Udhampur.
• The India Meteorology Department (IMD) has increased the number of Doppler Weather Radars in the region to four, with four additional units planned for Doda, Kishtwar, Anantnag, and Baramulla in 2027.
• The network of Automatic Weather Stations in the region has expanded from three to 12, with the latest additions including four stations in Kishtwar, two each in Doda and Ramban, and one in Kathua.
• Rain Gauge Stations across the five districts of the parliamentary constituency have increased from nine to 15 to strengthen local-level weather monitoring.
• Specialised meteorological infrastructure in the region includes the High-Altitude Cloud Physics Laboratory at Patnitop and a Regional Meteorological Centre in Jammu.