Gangtok, Sep 18 (PTI) Sikkim observed State Disaster Risk Reduction Day 2026 on Friday with a focus on preparing children to respond to disasters and strengthening resilience across communities.
According to a state government press statement, the programme at Chintan Bhawan here was held under the theme “Prepared Children, Resilient Future”, focusing on making disaster safety education a regular part of school and community life.
MLA-cum-Advisor L B Das, who was the chief guest, said the 2011 earthquake and the 2023 Glacial Lake Outburst Flood (GLOF) were reminders of Sikkim’s vulnerability to disasters and the changing nature of risks in the Himalayan region.
Das said children, while among the vulnerable during disasters, could also become important agents of preparedness as safety lessons learnt in schools could reach households and communities.
The state formally launched the ‘Friday Safety Five’, under which schools, ICDS and Anganwadi centres will devote five minutes every Friday to safety-related activities, including mock drills, hazard identification, evacuation procedures and basic emergency response.
The initiative is aimed at making preparedness a routine practice rather than an occasional exercise, the statement said.
Das also stressed the need for coordination among government departments, scientific and technical institutions and communities, along with stronger early warning systems, emergency communication, scientific risk assessment and response capacity.
He said disaster risk reduction should be integrated with development planning, with roads, bridges, schools, hospitals and settlements designed keeping future risks in mind.
Vice Chairman of the State Disaster Management Authority Prof V K Sharma highlighted Sikkim’s experience in glacial lake monitoring and its contribution to national GLOF preparedness initiatives. He also stressed the need to strengthen the resilience of hospitals and other critical infrastructure.
Sharma said a study of hospitals in the state had been undertaken by Sikkim State Disaster Management Authority (SSDMA) in collaboration with other agencies, followed by training for healthcare personnel. Training with the coalition for disaster resilient infrastructure and the World Health Organisation also identified practical risks inside hospitals, including equipment and fixtures obstructing evacuation routes.
Regional Director, South Asia, GeoHazards International, Dr Hari Kumar, stressed that the right to education should also mean the right to safe education and called for regular preparedness drills in schools.
He highlighted practical measures such as drop, cover and hold, learning to use fire extinguishers, keeping evacuation routes clear and identifying hazards such as unsecured cupboards, heavy objects, glass and false ceilings.
Kumar also called for School Disaster Management Plans defining evacuation procedures, assembly areas, first-aid arrangements and systems to account for students and staff during emergencies. He suggested that September 18 could be considered an annual school preparedness drill day from next year.
Relief Commissioner-cum-Secretary Rinzing Chewang Bhutia said Sikkim remained vulnerable to landslides, GLOFs, fires and lightning, with the 2023 GLOF demonstrating the serious risks posed by the state’s mountainous terrain and river systems.
He said SSDMA was working on disaster management planning, training and capacity building, community evacuation and response mapping, early warning systems and scientific assessment and mitigation of glacier and landslide-related risks.
The programme also saw the launch of a longitudinal study titled “From Multi-Hazard Risk to Resilience: A Longitudinal Social Science Study on DRR Policy and Planning in Sikkim”, being undertaken in partnership with Amrita University, IIT Roorkee, Sikkim University and SSDMA.
Emergency response kits were handed over to Yuva Apda Mitras associated with My Bharat, Bharat Scouts and Guides, NCC and NSS to strengthen youth and volunteer preparedness and response capacity.
Training materials were also handed over to government and private senior secondary schools and ICDS centres, while fire extinguishers were distributed to ICDS centres. PTI COR RG
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