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Owing to its vulnerable geological location and the escalating threats posed by global warming and climate change, Himachal Pradesh has experienced an alarming surge in natural disasters in recent years, prompting the State government to urge the Centre to establish at least 150 automated weather stations across the hill State before the next monsoon season. Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, who held a meeting with Union Minister of State for Science and Technology and Earth Sciences Dr. Jitendra Singh in New Delhi on Tuesday (October 28, 2025) evening, requested the government to provide one Doppler weather radar and 150 automatic weather stations in adequate numbers to ensure early and quick warning related to natural disasters in the State. ‘Rising natual disasters’ “Due to the geological positioning of Himachal Pradesh and concerning issues of global warming and climate change, the State has witnessed an alarming rise in the occurrences of natural disasters. The State was suffering huge losses due to these disaster instances,” said Mr. Sukhu, according to an official statement. He said weather-related data should be integrated with the Central recognised national early warning agencies so that the State could receive accurate and timely alerts pertaining to adverse weather conditions. Need for seismic lab The Chief Minister also requested officials for setting up a seismic laboratory and data analysis centre in Kangra-Hamirpur zone, as these areas fall within Seismic Zone 5 and are prone to earthquakes. “A modern warning and data monitoring and analysis system should be set up in Himachal [Pradesh] due to an increase in natural disasters in the State over the last few years,” he said. A detailed discussion was also held in the meeting on natural farming in Himachal Pradesh, along with land management and renewable energy-based smart agriculture, the statement added.
