Jammu and Kashmir’s placement in Seismic Zone V-the highest risk category under the Bureau of Indian Standards classification-should have triggered a sustained, mission-mode approach to earthquake preparedness. Instead, the region today stands as a troubling example of institutional inertia, where risk is acknowledged, but action remains absent. The disclosures made in Parliament reveal a stark reality: not a single critical building-such as schools, hospitals, or Government offices-has been retrofitted in accordance with the guidelines of the NDMA. Retrofitting is the most effective way to prevent large-scale casualties when seismic forces strike. In a region with densely populated areas and ageing infrastructure, this omission significantly heightens vulnerability. Equally alarming is the complete absence of earthquake early warning systems. Despite technological advancements and repeated consultations, no deployment of seismic sensors, real-time data transmission networks, or last-mile alert mechanisms has taken place. Early warning systems, even if they offer only seconds of advance notice, can save thousands of lives by enabling the shutdown of utilities, halting transportation, and triggering emergency responses. That such systems remain confined to discussions reflects a gap between policy articulation and execution.
The financial dimension further compounds the crisis. The non-release of funds under the NDRF and SDRF for earthquake mitigation in 2025-26 signals a deeper lack of prioritisation. Disaster preparedness cannot be treated as an optional expenditure, especially in a high-risk zone. More concerning is the absence of any dedicated budgetary provisioning, which effectively stalls even the most basic preparatory measures. Scientific groundwork, too, remains incomplete. Microzonation studies-critical for identifying localised fault lines, soil behaviour, and risk gradients-are either partial or ongoing. Without these assessments, urban planning and infrastructure development continue in a blind spot, increasing the likelihood of catastrophic outcomes. What emerges is a pattern of passive governance. Both the Centre and the UT Administration are aware of the looming threat, yet the response has been limited. This approach is untenable in the face of a potential disaster that could unfold without warning.
A calibrated, time-bound strategy is urgently needed. Immediate steps must be earmarked. Preparedness is a long-term process, but it must begin with decisive action today. The cost of inaction will not only be measured in infrastructure loss but also in human lives. Governments cannot afford to remain mute spectators to a predictable disaster. The time to act is now-before nature enforces its own deadline.
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