**Executive Summary**
This document summarizes the response to Unstarred Question No. 1469 in Lok Sabha, scheduled for December 9th, 2025, regarding the government's estimation of rainfall damage based on rain gauges at tehsils and sub-tehsils. The Ministry of Home Affairs clarifies that current damage estimates are not based on these rain gauges, and there are no plans to install rain gauges in villages for damage assessment. There are total 7900 rain gauges currently functional across the country.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Current Damage Assessment Methods:**
* The government does not estimate rainfall damage based on rain gauges installed at tehsils and sub-tehsils.
* Flood area estimates rely on remote sensing data (satellite data) and manual surveys.
* **Rain Gauge Usage:**
* Rain gauges are used for recording rainfall observation and to report the rainfall, providing data on rainfall events (heavy, very heavy, extremely heavy rainfall).
* Rainfall data from the Central Water Commission (CWC) and the India Meteorological Department (IMD) support flood forecast formulation and monitoring.
* Floods in rivers at identified flood forecasting stations are categorised as Above Normal, Severe, and Extreme Flood.
* Warning & Danger levels are fixed by the State Governments based on damage perception in the nearby area corresponding to the river water level at identified location whereas the Highest Flood level is normally historical observed maximum water level at that river location.
* **Future Plans:**
* The government does not propose to install rain gauges in villages to assess rainfall damage.
* **Current Infrastructure:**
* There are currently 7900 functional rain gauges across the country (6700 managed by IMD and 1200 by CWC) for improving rainfall monitoring.
**Impact Analysis**
**State Governments**
*Impact:* State Governments are responsible for fixing the warning and danger levels based on damage perception.
*Action Required:* Continue to establish and maintain warning and danger levels based on local damage perception in areas near rivers.
**Central Water Commission (CWC) and India Meteorological Department (IMD)**
*Impact:* These organizations are responsible for providing rainfall data.
*Action Required:* Continue to maintain and improve rainfall monitoring infrastructure and provide data to support flood forecasting.
**Citizens in Villages**
*Impact:* Damage assessment in villages will not be improved by installing rain gauges.
*Action Required:* Continue to work with local authorities and other stakeholders to determine effective methods for improving damage assessment.
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of Home Affairs: The primary government ministry responsible for disaster management and related policies.
India Meteorological Department (IMD): Key agency providing rainfall data.
Central Water Commission (CWC): Key agency using rainfall data for flood forecasting.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1469
TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 9TH DECEMBER, 2025/ AGRAHAYANA 18, 1947
(SAKA)
ESTIMATE OF RAINFALL DAMAGE BASED ON RAIN GAUGES AT TEHSILS
AND SUB-TEHSILS
†1469. SHRI HANUMAN BENIWAL:
ADV. CHANDRA SHEKHAR:
Will the Minister of HOME AFFAIRS be pleased to state:
(a) whether it is a fact that the Government estimates the damage caused
by excessive rainfall or floods based on the rain gauges installed at
tehsils and sub-tehsils;
(b) Whether the Government proposes to make a provision for assessing
the damage caused by heavy rainfall by considering villages also as a unit
along with tehsil and sub-tehsil or by installing rain gauges in villages also
so that the people can get relief in such calamities;
(c) if so, the time by which it is likely to be take place; and
(d) if not, the details along with the reasons therefor?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS
(SHRI NITYANAND RAI)
(a) No, the damage caused by excessive rainfall or floods is not
estimated based on the rain gauges installed at tehsils and sub-
tehsils. Remote sensing like satellite data are used for flood area
estimates and manual survey also carried out to estimate these
damages and impacts. Rain gauges are installed for recording
rainfall observation and to report the rainfall according to-2-
L.S.US.Q.NO. 1469 FOR 09.12.2025
occurrence of rainfall event like heavy rainfall, very heavy rainfall
and extremely heavy rainfall etc.
The observed rainfall data on near real time basis by the Central
Water Commission (CWC)& India Meteorological Department (IMD),
at its rain gauges established at various locations, supports flood
forecast formulation and flood monitoring in river by CWC. Floods
in rivers at identified flood forecasting stations are categorised as
Above Normal (water level between warning level & Danger level),
Severe (water level between Danger level & Highest Flood level)
and Extreme Flood (water level above Highest Flood Level).The
Warning& Danger levels are fixed by the State Governments based
on damage perception in the nearby area corresponding to the
river water level at identified location whereas the Highest Flood
level is normally historical observed maximum water level at that
river location.
(b) No, the Government does not propose to make a provision for
assessing the damage caused by heavy rainfall by installing rain
gauges in villages.-3-
L.S.US.Q.NO. 1469 FOR 09.12.2025
(c) & (d) For improving rainfall monitoring presently, there are total
7900 rain gauges (IMD-6700 and CWC-1200) functional across the
country.
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