ISRO Funds NIT Srinagar Project to Develop Real-Time Forecasting Tool for Cloudbursts, Thunderstorms

SRINAGAR: The National Institute of Technology (NIT) Srinagar has received Rs 26.25 lakh in funding from the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) for a three-year research project aimed at improving real-time forecasting of extreme weather events over the Himalayan region.

The project, titled “Development of Nowcasting Tool for Extreme Weather Events (Thunderstorms and Cloud Burst) Using Surface and Satellite Measurements Over Orographically Complex Region of India, ” has been approved under ISRO’s RESPOND Programme, which supports collaborative research in areas of national importance related to space science and applications.

Led by Dr Sandeep Samantaray, Assistant Professor in the Department of Civil Engineering, as the Principal Investigator, and Dr Deepak Kumar Naik from the Department of Mechanical Engineering as Co-Principal Investigator, the project will run for 36 months. It aims to build an advanced nowcasting framework capable of predicting thunderstorms and cloudbursts across mountainous terrains such as the Himalayas.

By integrating satellite imagery with ground-based weather data, the study seeks to strengthen India’s short-term weather forecasting systems and enhance early warning mechanisms for disaster management agencies. Nowcasting, which focuses on forecasts within a few hours, is seen as a crucial tool for mitigating loss of life and property during sudden and severe weather episodes.

NIT Srinagar Director Prof. Binod Kumar Kanaujia said the ISRO-backed project marked a proud moment for the institute and reflected its growing role in addressing national challenges through scientific research. “This project will enhance our capabilities in weather science and contribute directly to building community resilience in vulnerable regions,” he said.

Registrar Prof. Atikur Rehman described the Rs 26 lakh grant as a recognition of the institute’s rising research standards and said it would encourage greater interdisciplinary collaboration.

Principal Investigator Dr Samantaray said the research holds national relevance by supporting India’s efforts to strengthen disaster preparedness against climate-induced weather extremes. He added that his research group is currently working on multiple central government-funded projects focused on Jammu and Kashmir, with a combined value of Rs 1.32 crore.

With the new ISRO collaboration, NIT Srinagar joins a small but growing number of institutions working on developing high-resolution, short-term forecasting tools tailored to India’s complex terrain — an area increasingly vital as extreme weather events become more frequent and intense.