Shimla, Jul 3 (PTI) Himachal Pradesh chief secretary Kamlesh Kumar Pant on Friday said building a cadre of community volunteers along with technological interventions is needed to build a disaster-resilient state.
The state suffers heavy losses during the rainy season, with 12 deaths recorded since the onset of the this year’s monsoon earlier this week.
Pant presided over a seminar on disaster preparedness organised by the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) and the Himachal Pradesh State Disaster Management Authority (HPSDMA) here.
He said the state owing to its fragile Himalayan ecology and difficult terrain, remains highly vulnerable to cloudbursts, flash floods and landslides and other climate-induced disasters, , according to a statement.
The state has experienced several devastating disasters in recent years, particularly during the monsoon, which have highlighted both the strengths and limitations of the existing disaster management framework, the official said.
While coordinated response by government agencies, armed forces, NDRF, SDRF, police, fire services and others have significantly minimised loss of life during recent disasters, every disaster provides valuable lessons that must be used to improve future preparedness, Pant said.
The chief secretary said that reviewing previous disasters enables the government to identify operational gaps, assess institutional capacities and strengthen standard operating procedures.
He highlighted that challenges encountered during recent disaster events included disruption of road connectivity, communication failures, inaccessible terrain, adverse weather conditions, logistical constraints, delayed availability of real time information and the need for improved coordination among responding agencies.
Highlighting the importance of community-based disaster management, the Chief Secretary said local communities are always the first responders during any disaster.
Therefore, empowering citizens through awareness programmes, capacity-building initiatives and volunteer networks is essential for creating resilient communities, he said.
Pant laid special emphasis on the ‘Aapda Rakshak Yojana’, stating that the initiative aims to develop a trained cadre of community volunteers capable of providing immediate assistance during emergencies until professional response teams reach the affected areas.
The volunteers can play a vital role in search and rescue, first aid, evacuation and assisting vulnerable sections of society during disasters, the chief secretary said.
He emphasised the importance of resource mapping and said accurate and dynamic inventories of critical resources, including manpower, machinery, medical facilities, shelters, emergency equipment, transportation assets and communication infrastructure must be maintained at the District Disaster Management Authority level.
Integrating such resource mapping with Geographic Information Systems would significantly improve response planning and ensure optimal deployment of resources during emergencies, he said. PTI BPL SKY SKY
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