New Delhi, Jul 30 : The Centre on Wednesday informed the Lok Sabha that the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is extensively using satellite and geospatial technologies to monitor glaciers, glacial lakes, avalanches, landslides, snowfall and other natural hazards in Ladakh, while several space-based initiatives are underway to strengthen disaster management and climate resilience in the Union Territory.
Minister of State in the Prime Minister’s Office, Dr Jitendra Singh, shared the information in a written reply to a question by MP Mohmad Haneefa on the use of space technology for disaster management in Ladakh.
The minister said ISRO has created a database of more than 2,000 glaciers in Ladakh using satellite data collected between 2020 and 2023. It has also mapped changes in the extent of over 1,000 glaciers over the past two decades.
He informed the House that an inventory of 3,219 glacial lakes larger than 0.25 hectares has been prepared under the National Hydrology Project of the Ministry of Jal Shakti. Glacial Lake Outburst Flood (GLOF) risk modelling has also been carried out for high-risk lakes, including Katkar and Suru in Ladakh.
According to Dr Singh, ISRO has been conducting daily satellite-based snow cover mapping across the Indian Himalayas, including Ladakh, from 2019 until September 2025. In collaboration with the University of Jammu, 4,912 wetlands have been mapped, while 41 major water bodies are being monitored through the Bhuvan Waterbody Information System. The organisation is also regularly updating Ladakh’s landslide inventory using satellite imagery.
The minister highlighted several major projects implemented in the region over the past five years, including the Cryosphere Science and Applications Programme (CAP) for glacier and snow monitoring, the Ladakh Specific Modelling and Space Applications (LAMA) project for space-based weather forecasting, heavy rainfall alerts and hydrological simulations, and the Satellite Integrated Landslide Assessment and Alert System (SILAAS), which has been generating village-level landslide alerts since 2023.
He added that the National Hydrology Project (2017–2025) includes glacial lake mapping, GLOF risk assessment, snow-cover monitoring, evapotranspiration studies and hydrological drought assessment. ISRO has also developed the Geo-Ladakh geoportal, providing a comprehensive geospatial database covering natural resources, infrastructure, energy and administrative boundaries.
Dr Singh said ISRO is undertaking advanced research to strengthen space-based early warning systems for GLOFs, extreme weather events and landslides, which will further enhance disaster preparedness in Ladakh.
He also informed Parliament that ISRO provides satellite-based information on floods, GLOF incidents and forest fires to the Ladakh administration during major disasters. Under the Space-based Information Support for Decentralised Planning (SISDP) programme, detailed thematic maps on land use, drainage, settlements, terrain and transport infrastructure have been prepared and made available through the Bhuvan-Panchayat portal to support development planning.
The minister added that ISRO regularly conducts training and capacity-building programmes to promote the use of space technology for sustainable development and disaster risk reduction, with officials and stakeholders from Ladakh actively participating in these initiatives.
