Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu has called for comprehensive scientific research into the recurring cloudburst incidents in the hill State, emphasising the need to examine key contributing factors, including the role of dams, temperature fluctuations, terrain characteristics, and aerial distance-based patterns linked to frequent cloudbursts across the Himalayan region.

The Chief Minister was presiding over a high-level meeting focused on disaster risk reduction, resilience planning, and ongoing research efforts being carried out by the Himalayan Centre for Disaster Risk Reduction and Resilience at the Himachal Pradesh University.

While directing the centre at the university to conduct the studies, he said that all State-level research and development activities related to disaster studies, hazard assessment, and technical evaluation would be carried out through the centre.

“Cloudbursts have become a frequent phenomenon across the State and people are suffering significant loss of life and property due to such incidents. There is an urgent need to scientifically study the pattern of cloudbursts occurring in Himachal Pradesh,” Mr. Sukhu said.

The Chief Minister directed the Himachal Pradesh State Disaster Management Authority (HPSDMA) to allocate ₹6 crore crore for capacity building and strengthening of the centre through specialised training programmes. He also approved an additional grant of ₹10 crore for institutional strengthening and capacity enhancement initiatives, and directed the HPSDMA to provide financial assistance for undertaking Glacial Lake Outburst Flood (GLOF) studies through the centre at the university, and allocated ₹1 crore for this.

Commending the efforts of the Himachal Pradesh University’s centre in advancing disaster risk reduction and resilience across the State, the Chief Minister called for extending similar scientific research to other at-risk regions of Himachal Pradesh with the aim of improving disaster preparedness and resilience planning across the State.

Himachal Pradesh has faced climate change-driven devastation caused by cloudbursts during the 2023-24 and 2025-26 monsoons.