GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3858
TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 11TH AUGUST, 2026/ SHRAVANA 20, 1948 (SAKA)
INCIDENTS OF CLOUDBURSTS
†3858. DR. RAJEEV BHARADWAJ:
Will the Minister of HOME AFFAIRS be pleased to state:
(a) whether any study has been conducted by the Government to ascertain
the reasons behind the increasing incidents of cloudbursts in the...
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3858 TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 11TH AUGUST, 2026/ SHRAVANA 20, 1948 (SAKA) INCIDENTS OF CLOUDBURSTS †3858. DR. RAJEEV BHARADWAJ:
Will the Minister of HOME AFFAIRS be pleased to state:
(a) whether any study has been conducted by the Government to ascertain the reasons behind the increasing incidents of cloudbursts in the State of Himachal Pradesh;
(b) if so, the details thereof; and
(c) whether according to weather experts' reports, climate change and unscientific incidents of construction are contributing to the rise in incidents of cloudburst and other disasters? ANSWER MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS (SHRI NITYANAND RAI)
(a) & (b): Yes, Sir. In view of the increasing frequency and intensity of incidents of cloudbursts, flash floods, landslides and extreme rainfall in Himachal Pradesh, a Multi-Sectoral Central Team (MSCT) has been constituted. The Team comprises experts from the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), Central Building Research Institute (CBRI), Roorkee, Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM), Pune, Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Indore, and other concerned agencies. In-2- L.S.US.Q.NO. 3858 FOR 11.08.2026 addition, inputs received from the India Meteorological Department (IMD), Central Water Commission (CWC) and Geological Survey of India (GSI) have also been incorporated.
The Team has been entrusted with the responsibility of undertaking a scientific assessment of the causes of increasing extreme weather events in the State, analysing the geographical and ground conditions of the worst- affected areas, compiling and examining data received from various agencies, and recommending long-term measures to minimise the impact of such disasters.
(c): Assessments provided by weather experts, scientific institutions and State authorities indicate that, as a consequence of climate change, the intensity and frequency of extreme rainfall events are increasing in the Himalayan region. Accelerated snowmelt and moraine instability contribute to off-season slope failures and high runoff in high-altitude zones. As per MSCT study, anthropogenic factors have also contributed to the increased risk in the region.
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