SRINAGAR: Jammu and Kashmir is yet to complete a comprehensive multi-hazard risk assessment that will form the basis of its long-term disaster mitigation and preparedness strategy, with the Government informing the Legislative Assembly that the exercise remains underway and no implementation timeline has been fixed.
The High-Level Committee for Hazard, Vulnerability and Risk Assessment (HVRA), constituted on February 6, 2026, was mandated to submit its report within three months under Government Order No. 168-JK(GAD) of 2026. However, the Government’s latest Assembly reply states that the assessment is still in progress.
The Government said a definite schedule for implementing seismic risk mitigation measures would be considered only after completion of the assessment and formulation and approval of the required mitigation measures.
The HVRA exercise covers seismic, flood, landslide, glacial lake outburst flood (GLOF) and forest-fire risks, besides preparation of a J&K Hazard, Vulnerability and Risk Assessment Atlas and recommendations for short-, medium- and long-term interventions.
A key clarification in the reply concerns the seismic zoning of J&K. The Government said the widely cited Zone VI classification does not currently apply to the Union Territory. The Bureau of Indian Standards withdrew its revised 2025 seismic code on March 3, 2026, leaving the seismic zoning map under IS 1893 (Part 1):2016 as the applicable standard.
Under the existing classification, J&K falls in Seismic Zones IV and V. Most of the Kashmir Valley, along with parts of Doda, Ramban and Kishtwar, falls under Zone V, while the remaining areas are classified as Zone IV.
The Government said no separate comprehensive seismic risk mitigation plan had been proposed specifically on the basis of the withdrawn Zone VI classification. However, earthquake preparedness measures are being strengthened through mock drills, awareness programmes, Aapda-Mitra community volunteers and enhanced emergency response capabilities.
Meanwhile, 10,503 school buildings across all 20 districts have undergone safety audits, according to the Assembly reply.
The audits were carried out by the Design, Inspections and Quality Control wing of the Public Works (R&B) Department to assess structural conditions and assist in planning maintenance, rehabilitation and reconstruction.
The Government further said structural safety assessments of government buildings, bridges and other infrastructure had also been undertaken by the Public Works (R&B) Department in accordance with applicable BIS codes and technical standards.
Safety audits of health institutions are being conducted by the Public Works (R&B) Department, while critical infrastructure under the Housing and Urban Development Department is subject to periodic structural safety audits.
At the district level, District Disaster Management Plans have been formulated across J&K, while District Emergency Operations Centres are functional and coordinate with line departments during emergencies.
The arrangements cover manpower and machinery preparedness, response teams, warning dissemination, mock drills and contingency planning.
The HVRA committee is headed by Safi Ahsan Rizvi, IPS, Advisor (Mitigation), National Disaster Management Authority, and includes senior officials from Jal Shakti, Public Works (R&B), Housing and Urban Development, Forest, Ecology and Environment, and Rural Development and Panchayati Raj departments, besides technical experts.
The Government said the completed HVRA findings, applicable seismic design standards and recommendations of technical agencies will form the basis for deciding future disaster risk mitigation and preparedness measures.
