Examiner Bureau | Jammu:
In a major boost to meteorological infrastructure in the north-western Himalayan region, Union Minister and Udhampur MP Dr. Jitendra Singh will formally declare the establishment of a Regional Meteorological Centre (RMC) in Jammu on Thursday.
The new centre is expected to significantly strengthen weather forecasting, climate monitoring and disaster preparedness across Jammu and Kashmir, Ladakh and Himachal Pradesh.
The announcement was previewed during a curtain-raiser programme held at the CSIR–Indian Institute of Integrative Medicine (IIIM), Jammu, ahead of the formal declaration ceremony.
Officials said the Regional Meteorological Centre will serve as a key hub for advanced meteorological services, integrating weather observations with state-of-the-art X-band Doppler Weather Radar systems and an expanded network of Automatic Weather Stations. The upgraded infrastructure is expected to improve real-time weather monitoring, forecasting accuracy and early warning capabilities across the region.
The centre will enhance the monitoring and forecasting of extreme weather events, including heavy rainfall, snowfall, flash floods, cloudbursts, thunderstorms, avalanches, heatwaves and coldwaves, helping authorities respond more effectively to weather-related emergencies.
Officials described the initiative as a major step towards strengthening disaster risk reduction and improving weather and climate services for critical sectors such as agriculture, aviation, hydropower, tourism, water resources management and transportation.
“The Regional Meteorological Centre will play a pivotal role in delivering timely weather advisories and warnings while improving coordination with stakeholder agencies for effective disaster management,” an official said.
The formal declaration ceremony will be held at the Convention Centre, Jammu, in the presence of senior government officials, meteorological experts and representatives from various departments.
Among those expected to attend are Jammu and Kashmir Minister for Science and Technology Satish Sharma, Jammu MP Jugal Kishore Sharma, Director General of Meteorology M. Mohapatra, and senior officials of the India Meteorological Department.
