Kashmir , May 11, 2026-Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Sunday announced that nearly 60 vulnerable lakes in Jammu & Kashmir, Ladakh and other Himalayan states will soon be equipped with advanced early warning systems to strengthen disaster preparedness and reduce risks from floods and climate-related disasters.
The announcement was made during a high-level review meeting on monsoon preparedness and disaster management in New Delhi, where Shah stressed the importance of adopting a “zero casualty” approach in handling natural disasters across the country.
Officials said the initiative will focus on monitoring high-risk glacial and mountain lakes that are vulnerable to flash floods and Glacial Lake Outburst Floods (GLOFs), especially in ecologically sensitive regions such as J&K, Ladakh, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Arunachal Pradesh and Sikkim.
Amit Shah directed the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) and concerned state governments to strengthen coordination and establish integrated flood warning systems for timely alerts and quick response during emergencies. He also called for the formation and activation of Flood Crisis Management Teams at both state and district levels.
Highlighting the increasing impact of climate change and extreme weather events, the Home Minister said early dissemination of warnings and public awareness are crucial to protecting lives and infrastructure in vulnerable regions.
Shah further instructed authorities to improve existing disaster management systems instead of creating overlapping platforms. He also emphasised long-term measures such as water conservation, groundwater recharge, check dams and better storage infrastructure to mitigate the impact of floods and heatwaves.
The move is expected to significantly boost disaster preparedness in Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh, where changing weather patterns and melting glaciers continue to pose growing environmental and humanitarian challenges.
