Lok Sabha Question No. 3204 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2026-03-11
Subject: Early Warning Systems for Floods and Cyclones
Ministry: EARTH SCIENCES
Asked by: Shri Rajiv Pratap Rudy

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF EARTH SCIENCES LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3204

## TO BE ANSWERED ON WEDNESDAY, 11 TH  MARCH, 2026

## EARLY WARNING SYSTEMS FOR FLOODS AND CYCLONES

## 3204.   SHRI RAJIV PRATAP RUDY:

Will the Minister of EARTH SCIENCES be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the district-level early warning systems for floods and cyclones have been established in all vulnerable districts of the country;
- (b) if  so,  the  details  thereof  and  the  number  of  districts  currently  equipped  with automated siren and alert infrastructure;
- (c) whether any deficiencies were observed in recent events especially in the vulnerable Himalayan States and the States of Punjab, West Bengal and Bihar and if so, the details thereof;
- (d) whether it is a fact that India still lacks adequate end-to-end connectivity at the local levels to warn residents about upcoming floods and cyclones; and
- (e) if so, the measures proposed to strengthen local capacity for dissemination and public response to early warnings including budget allocation for the said purpose?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) FOR MINISTRY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY AND EARTH SCIENCES (DR. JITENDRA SINGH)

- (a)-(c)  Yes.  Currently,  India  Meteorological  Department  (IMD)  prepares  and  updates district-wise early warnings for heavy rainfall and cyclone-related events four times a day, with forecasts valid for up to seven days. IMD generates real-time weatherrelated warnings and graphical products to support timely weather monitoring and dissemination of information. These warnings cover all vulnerable districts to ensure the  timely  dissemination  of  information  for  preparedness  and  mitigation.  Further, these warnings are shared using multiple channels, e.g., Common Alerting Protocol (CAP), mobile Apps, websites, WhatsApp, Social media, etc. However, the warning communications with automated siren and alert infrastructure are the responsibilities of State Disaster Management Authorities (SDMA) and State Emergency Operation Centres  (SEOCs).  IMD  supports  the  Central  Water  Commission  by  providing observed and forecasted rainfall data.

Central Water Commission (CWC) is the nodal Organisation entrusted with the task of flood forecasting & early flood warnings in the country. Presently, CWC issues flood forecasts at 350 forecasting stations (150 Inflow Forecast Stations on major dams/barrages & 200 Level Forecast Stations on major rivers. The network has been established in consultation with the State Governments and UTs. In order to provide more lead time to the local authorities to plan  evacuation  of people &  take other remedial measures, CWC has developed a basin-wise flood forecasting model based on  rainfall-runoff  mathematical  modelling  for  7  days  advance  advisory  at  its forecasting stations in addition to short-range forecast having a response time up to 24 hours. CWC flood forecasting services are also integrated with an integrated alert dissemination platform, Common Alert Protocol (CAP), issued to the State Disaster Management Authority (SDMA) of the respective States/UTs.

In view of the severity of the flood situation in flood-prone regions, Government has launched/inaugurated a web-based C-Flood platform. It provides two days advance inundation forecasts up to village level in the form of inundation maps and water level predictions. The salient features of C-flood web-based platform are:

-  C-Flood integrates flood inundation output information derived from advanced 2D hydrodynamic modelling with extent and depth information.
-  It  has  been  designed  to  serve  as  a  unified  inundation  information  system integrating flood modelling outputs from national and regional agencies for all  river  basins  as  per  their  respective  action  plans.  It  covers  inundation forecasts for the  Godavari, Tapi, and Mahanadi River Basins in the initial phase.
-  The web-portal supports three languages, namely, Hindi, English & Odia in the initial phase.
-  It includes an inundation forecast for the next two days. It shows inundation information up to the village level.
-  It indicates three categories of Flood Alerts based on the inundation depth: Yellow Alert indicates inundation below 0.5m, an Orange Alert corresponds to depths below 1.5m, and a RedAlert signifies inundation exceeding 1.5m.
-  To  improve  and  access  the  forecast  accuracy,  satellite-based  datasets  and ground-based hydrological observations are utilized.

A 'Flood Watch India' Mobile App has been developed by the CWC, which was launched  on  17th  August  2023.  It  presently  provides  information  about  flood forecasting  at  200  stations,  flood  monitoring  for  the  present  flood  situation  at  an additional 500 stations, and the reservoir storage position of 150 major reservoirs in the  country.  The  App  is  helpful  to  both  the  disaster  management  authorities  at Central, State, District, and local levels as well as the general public by giving floodrelated alerts in time for taking preventive measures.

For the States of Punjab, West Bengal, and Bihar, there is no major deficiency as such with respect to generating and updating color-coded district-wise heavy rainfall warnings,  and  also  for  providing  time-to-time  rainfall  data  and  Quantitative Precipitation  Forecast  (QPF)  to  CWC  for  updating  flood  warnings  relevant  to catchment areas.

- (d)-(e)  No. There is no lack of end-to-end connectivity at the local levels to warn residents. For cyclone warnings dissemination, IMD  utilises all available means of communication to reach out to disaster managers, media, and the general public. The warnings are issued through IMD National & State-level websites and a dedicated website for tropical cyclones, shared via CAP, SMS alerts to registered users, social media,  including  Facebook,  X,  WhatsApp  groups,  and  mobile  apps.  It  is  also complemented by regular Press releases and media briefings, both at the National and State levels. Warnings for fishermen are regularly broadcast through All India Radio. In addition, warnings for fishermen are also sent by SMS through the Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services (INCOIS) network, and for fishermen in the deep  Sea,  warnings  are  sent  through  NAViC.  IMD  also  conducts  pre-cyclone meetings with disaster managers  at the Central and State levels to ensure preparedness  ahead  of  cyclone  season.  During  adverse  weather  conditions,  the disaster managers at the Central & State levels are briefed personally by the Director General, IMD.

The   State Disaster Management Authority (SDMA) and the State Emergency Oper ations Center (SEOC) share the warnings to the vulnerable population through their State-level disaster warning communication network. However, to make a robust and foolproof warning dissemination to the last mile to the vulnerable population, there is need for further improvement of mobile and digital connectivity at the local levels, strengthening  of  the  local  level  dissemination  system  through  the  installation  of sirens, creating awareness among  the common  man,  strengthening satellite communication for fishermen etc.

To support activities necessary for the efficient and effective working of the early warning  system  at  the  state  level  such  as  strengthening  of  the  local  capacity  for dissemination, awareness related to impact of  various disasters, public response to early warnings system etc.,  resources are available to the State disaster management authorities  through  the  State  Disaster  Response  Fund  (SDRF)  and  State  Disaster Mitigation Fund (SDMF). If there is a request from the States for financial assistance, the Central Government considers it in accordance with the relevant guidelines for the National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF) and National Disaster Mitigation Fund (NDMF).

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