Parliament Question: Earthquake preparedness, monitoring, and mitigation in Jammu and Kashmir

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS RAJYA SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2953 TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 18TH MARCH, 2026/ PHALGUNA 27, 1947 (SAKA) EARTHQUAKE PREPAREDNESS, MONITORING, AND MITIGATION IN JAMMU AND KASHMIR 2953. SHRI SAT PAUL SHARMA: Will the Minister of HOME AFFAIRS be pleased to state: (a) the current status of seismic microzonation mapping in Jammu and Kashmir, particularly in Zone V areas of Kashmir Valley, and what is the timeline for completion; (b) how many critical buildings(schools, hospitals, Government offices) in Jammu and Kashmir have been retrofitted under National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) seismic safety guidelines as of 2026; (c) steps taken by the NDMA to install or upgrade earthquake early warning sensors and alert systems in high-risk districts of Jammu and Kashmir; and (d) amount utilized from NDRF/SDRF for earthquake preparedness and mitigation projects in Jammu and Kashmir in 2025-26, and what additional funds are proposed? ANSWER MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS (SHRI NITYANAND RAI) (a) Based on seismicity, historical earthquake intensity and soil conditions, the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) has classified the Indian landmass into four seismic zones (II, III, IV and V) as per IS 1893 (Part 1):2016. The Kashmir Valley falls under Seismic Zone V, representing the highest seismic hazard zone.-2- R.S.US.Q.NO. 2953 FOR 18.03.2026 Under a Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES) sponsored project, the council of Scientific & Industrial Research (CSIR) Fourth Paradigm Institute, Bengaluru, with the support of the University of Kashmir, has completed site effects investigations for Srinagar City in September 2022. The site effects study is an important component of seismic microzonation, involving the assessment of local soil conditions and ground motion amplification. Similar site effects studies for the Jammu region were initiated in December 2025 by the CSIR Fourth Paradigm Institute, with the involvement of other CSIR laboratories under a CSIR mission-mode project. The timeline for completion depends on the outcome of ongoing scientific assessments. (b) National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) has not undertaken any retrofitting project in J&K. (c) & (d) NDMA has undertaken consultation meeting/workshop with States / Union Territories, including Jammu & Kashmir, on the importance of promoting establishment of an Earthquake Early Warning and Alert System through deployment of seismic sensors, data transmission systems, and last- mile alert dissemination mechanisms as well as educating communities for retrofitting measures. Any funds for earthquake preparedness and mitigation projects in Jammu & Kashmir has not yet been released from NDRF/SDRF. ******