Himachal: IIT Mandi developing VR systems to train people for disaster preparedness

In the fragile Himalayas, where cloudbursts and landslides have become a brutal annual reality, IIT Mandi is fighting back with cutting-edge technology that lets people “live” through disasters—safely.

The institute is building ultra-realistic Virtual Reality (VR) and Augmented Reality (AR) training systems that put you right in the middle of a raging flood, a crumbling hillside, or a shaking earthquake—without any real danger. Firefighters, disaster response teams, local officials, and even schoolchildren can now practice life-saving actions in immersive 360-degree simulations.

“Put on the headset and you’ll see exactly how a landslide starts, how fast floodwater rises, and which buildings are likely to collapse,” explains a researcher from IIT Mandi’s Centre for Climate Change and Disaster Management. “It’s not a video game—it’s training that can save thousands of lives.”

This isn’t science fiction. A massive ₹20 crore grant from Tata Trusts is supercharging the centre’s work. The money is fueling:

• Hyper-realistic VR/AR disaster simulators

• IoT + MEMS sensor networks that monitor rainfall, soil movement, and river flow in real time

• Early-warning systems that can predict landslides 30 minutes to one hour in advance

“We already have a working landslide early-warning prototype,” says IIT Mandi Director Prof. Laxmidhar Behera. “It’s not perfect yet, but we’re making it more accurate and robust every month. Soon, people in remote Himalayan villages will get alerts on their phones before disaster strikes.”

The need is urgent. This monsoon alone, Himachal Pradesh suffered losses of around ₹5,000 crore and hundreds of lives as rains triggered devastating landslides and flash floods. Thousands of homes were damaged or destroyed.

Prof. Behera, who has made Himalayan resilience his personal mission, adds: “We are here in the mountains, so we must think about mountain people. Climate change and disasters are our top priorities.”

Beyond VR training and sensors, the centre is also helping policymakers “walk” through high-risk zones virtually, test evacuation routes, and see the impact of new roads or dams before a single brick is laid.

With five new interdisciplinary research centres, a booming incubator called Catalyst, and a sharp focus on turning research into real-world solutions, IIT Mandi is quietly becoming the Himalayan region’s nerve centre for disaster preparedness.

When the next cloudburst hits, the mountains may finally be ready.