Jammu, Jun 3: Union Minister and Member Parliament (MP) Udhampur Dr Jitendra Singh will formally declare the establishment of a new Regional Meteorological Centre (RMC) at Jammu on June 5, marking a major step towards strengthening weather forecasting and disaster preparedness across Jammu and Kashmir, Ladakh and Himachal Pradesh.
This was informed during a curtain raiser programme organised on Wednesday at CSIR-Indian Institute of Integrative Medicine (IIIM), Jammu, ahead of the formal declaration ceremony.
The new RMC is being established as a significant milestone in strengthening meteorological services across the north-western Himalayan region, including Jammu and Kashmir, Ladakh and Himachal Pradesh.
The centre will integrate weather observations with state-of-the-art X-band Doppler Weather Radar systems and an expanded network of Automatic Weather Stations (AWSs), significantly enhancing real-time weather monitoring, forecasting accuracy and early warning capabilities across the region.
The new RMC is envisioned as a hub for advanced meteorological services, strengthening the observation and forecasting framework for extreme weather events such as heavy rainfall, snowfall, flash floods, cloudbursts, thunderstorms, avalanches, heatwaves, coldwaves and other weather-related hazards.
Officials said the declaration of the Regional Meteorological Centre reflects continued efforts to strengthen forecasting infrastructure and improve the delivery of weather and climate services.
“The centre will play a vital role in supporting disaster risk reduction, agriculture, aviation, hydropower, tourism, water resource management, transportation and other weather-sensitive sectors,” an official said. “It will cater to the meteorological requirements of the Union Territories of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh, as well as Himachal Pradesh.”
The centre is expected to enhance weather forecasting, climate monitoring and early warning dissemination services across this strategically important and meteorologically diverse region.
The main function will be held on June 5, 2026, at the Convention Centre, Jammu, where Dr. Jitendra Singh, Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for the Ministries of Earth Sciences and Science and Technology, and Minister of State in the Prime Minister’s Office, Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions, Department of Atomic Energy and Department of Space, will formally declare the Centre.
Dr Jitendra Singh holds several portfolios including Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for the Ministry of Earth Sciences in India.
This ministry oversees the India Meteorological Department (IMD), which is responsible for weather forecasting, climate monitoring, and disaster warnings in the country.
J&K Science and Technology minister Satish Sharma and MP Jammu Jugal Kishore Sharma will also grace the occasion. Director General of Meteorology, India Meteorological Department (IMD), M. Mohapatra, other senior IMD officials and dignitaries from various Central Government offices will also be present.
The programme will highlight the objectives, operational capabilities and anticipated benefits of the proposed Centre, including improved monitoring of extreme weather events, enhanced forecasting accuracy and strengthened coordination with various stakeholder agencies for timely dissemination of weather advisories and warnings.
Officials described the initiative as a major step towards enhancing weather and climate services across the north-western Himalayan region. (KNO)
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