BARAMULLA: In a concerted effort to enhance disaster preparedness and response capabilities of district, Deputy Commissioner (DC) Baramulla convened a review meeting of concerned departments, including Police, SDRF, Fire & Emergency Services, Health, Education, PDD, PHE and other stakeholders.

The meeting aimed to assess the current state of readiness, identify gaps, and ensure a well-coordinated approach to disaster management across the district.

During the review, the DC underscored the critical importance of a robust and proactive disaster management mechanism, stressing that preparedness is the cornerstone of effective disaster response.

DC maintained that in times of crisis, there must be absolute clarity regarding roles and responsibilities, and all concerned agencies and departments should function in a cohortly to mitigate risks besides safeguard lives and property.

Meanwhile, Sherpa underscored the need for strengthening coordination and communication between civil society organizations, NGOs, and Aapda Mitra volunteers with Tehsil and Sub-Division offices, District Emergency Operation Centers, SDRF, and Fire & Emergency Services to collaborate during emergencies, enhancing disaster preparedness and mitigation efforts across the district.

He further highlighted that disaster response should not get affected by a lack of information. Instead, he said a well-documented plan must be accessible to all relevant stakeholders, which will serve as a guiding framework, ensuring that each department is well-equipped with predefined protocols and responsibilities.

Also, DC directed the R&B Department to conduct a comprehensive structural assessment of all school buildings in the district to determine their safety and suitability for use to safeguard students and staff in case of any disasters.

Further, departments were directed to update their contingency plans, conduct periodic mock drills, and ensure the availability of essential resources including emergency equipment, trained personnel, and communication networks.

The meeting was attended by the Additional Deputy Commissioner Baramulla, Dr. Zahoor Ahmad Raina, ADC Sopore, Shabir Ahmad Raina, Superintendent of Police, Yasir Qadri, ACR Baramulla, Arshad Ahmad Khan, Executive Engineer R&B, tehsildars from all the tehsils, Consultant DDMA, Rehana Fayaz, Aapda Mitra volunteers and others.