Rising extreme weather in the Himalayas is becoming a growing disaster-management concern, with the Centre telling the Lok Sabha that climate change and human activity are increasing the risk of intense rainfall and other extreme events across the mountain region. Minister of State for Home Affairs Nityanand Rai said expert assessments indicate that the intensity and frequency of extreme rainfall events are increasing because of climate change. The government also pointed to accelerated snowmelt, unstable moraines and human interventions as factors increasing runoff and slope-failure risks in high-altitude areas.

The statement came in response to a Lok Sabha question concerning cloudbursts in Himachal Pradesh. The Centre has formed a Multi-Sectoral Central Team (MSCT) to investigate the causes behind extreme weather events in the state and assess conditions in some of the worst-affected areas.

Government Team to Examine Himalayan Disaster Risks

The MSCT brings together specialists from the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), Central Building Research Institute (CBRI), Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM), IIT Indore and other agencies.

The assessment will also incorporate information from the India Meteorological Department (IMD), Central Water Commission (CWC) and Geological Survey of India (GSI). Officials will examine weather records, geographical conditions, ground stability and data collected by different agencies before recommending long-term measures to reduce disaster impacts.

Snowmelt and Unstable Moraines Add to the Risk

The Centre said faster snowmelt is contributing to increased runoff in high-altitude regions. When snow melts more rapidly, additional water can enter mountain drainage systems, potentially increasing downstream flows during already vulnerable periods.

The government also highlighted moraine instability as a contributor to off-season slope failures. Moraines consist of loose accumulations of rocks, soil and other debris associated with glaciers. When these deposits become unstable, they can collapse or contribute to the movement of water, rocks and sediment down steep slopes.

Human activity is another concern. Construction, changes in land use and development in fragile mountain environments can increase exposure to hazards and potentially weaken natural drainage and slope stability.

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Jammu and Kashmir Faces Repeated Extreme Events

The findings have wider relevance for Jammu and Kashmir, where repeated episodes of intense rainfall, flash floods and landslides have affected communities, roads, agriculture and other infrastructure.

• More than 30 people have reportedly died in flash floods and landslides in J&K this year, with areas including Rajouri, Poonch, Reasi, Kathua, Samba, Doda, Kishtwar and Ramban among those affected.
• Incidents have also occurred across north, central and south Kashmir.
• On July 19, flash floods and landslides in Poonch and Rajouri killed more than 25 people.
• Hailstorms, strong winds and intense rainfall have also damaged orchards, affecting blossoms and young fruit.

The scale of the risk was also evident in 2025.

• Home Ministry figures presented in the Rajya Sabha showed that floods and heavy rainfall killed 199 people in J&K, while 11,693 livestock died, 8,404 houses were damaged, and around 77,915 hectares of farmland were affected.

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Kishtwar Cloudburst Highlights the Danger

One of the deadliest incidents occurred on August 14, 2025, when a cloudburst struck Chisoti village along the Machail Mata Yatra route in Kishtwar. The resulting flash floods left nearly 70 people dead, many of them pilgrims, while several others were reported missing.

The Centre’s assessment comes as rising extreme weather in the Himalayas increasingly intersects with rapid development and a changing climate. Better early-warning systems, stronger hazard mapping, careful construction planning and improved coordination between agencies will be important in reducing future losses.

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