With climate change intensifying and natural disasters becoming more frequent in the Himalayan region, the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Mandi has begun developing advanced Virtual Reality (VR) technology to strengthen disaster awareness, training and planning. The initiative aims to help communities, responders and officials better understand and prepare for emergencies that repeatedly strike Himachal Pradesh during the monsoon season.
VR for Realistic Disaster Simulation
IIT Mandi’s Centre for Climate Change and Disaster Management is creating immersive VR headsets that allow users to experience real-time disaster scenarios in a safe, controlled environment. The simulations demonstrate how landslides begin, how floodwaters rise, or how buildings behave during earthquakes. This helps first responders and local communities learn the correct actions to take when faced with sudden, life-threatening events.
Tools for Planners and Policymakers
The VR system also supports government departments and planners by allowing them to visualise high-risk zones and test various response strategies before implementing them on the ground. The institute aims to use these simulations to improve preparedness, reduce casualties and strengthen region-wide resilience.
Climate Disaster Impacts in Himachal
Disasters have become a consistent feature of the monsoon season in Himachal Pradesh. In recent years, excessive rainfall, flash floods and landslides have caused widespread losses. This year alone, the hill state reported damages worth nearly ₹5,000 crore, with hundreds of lives lost and thousands of homes partially or fully destroyed.
Director’s Vision for Himalayan Resilience
IIT Mandi Director Professor Laxmidhar Behera said the institute’s efforts are driven by the urgent need to protect the fragile Himalayan ecosystem. He highlighted that Tata Trusts recently awarded a ₹20 crore grant to strengthen disaster research and technology development at the Centre.
Behera said the institute has already developed a landslide early warning system capable of predicting slope failures 30 minutes to one hour in advance. He added that work is underway to make the system more robust and reliable so that its benefits can reach vulnerable communities soon.
Advanced Monitoring Using MEMS and IoT
According to IIT Mandi officials, the Tata Trusts grant has significantly expanded the Centre’s capabilities. A major focus is the development of AR/VR-based platforms that simulate landslides, floods and earthquakes with high detail.
The Centre is also deploying micro-electro-mechanical systems (MEMS) integrated with Internet of Things (IoT) technology to monitor rainfall, soil movement, water flow and weather conditions. These networks allow agencies to receive early alerts for landslides and floods.
Building a Strong Research and Innovation Ecosystem
Behera noted that the institute has been investing heavily in interdisciplinary research. IIT Mandi has created five new research centres, strengthened faculty numbers and increased its pool of PhD scholars.
He also highlighted progress in translational research through ‘Catalyst’, the institute’s incubator and technology innovation hub in human–computer interaction. To encourage entrepreneurship, IIT Mandi has launched dedicated programmes that help students turn innovative ideas into real-world solutions.