To strengthen disaster management capabilities and ensure a more effective, technologically advanced and environmentally conscious response to emergencies, a high-level meeting was presided over by the Chief Secretary Prabodh Saxena here today which was attended by the senior officials of the National Disaster Management Authority, National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), State Disaster Management Authority, State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), Indian Meteorological Department and other stakeholder departments like NHAI, Geological Survey of India, HPPWD, HP forest department etc.
Chief Secretary said that due to increasing frequency of natural disasters in the State, the SDRF needs to be strengthened. He emphasized on enhancing operational skills, integrating advanced technology and adopting sustainable clean-up methods.
Expressing concern over the challenges posed by disasters in mountainous and high-altitude regions of the State, he asserted the need for a dedicated training module and schedule to be developed for SDRF teams. This initiative aims to equip the teams with the specialized skills required for search and rescue operations in hard terrains and extreme weather conditions.
The training will include the comprehensive hands-on training in operating drones for aerial inspection, locating survivors in inaccessible areas, assessing damage, and dropping essential supplies like medicines and food packets in precise locations.
Chief Secretary said that to make disaster response faster and more data-driven, the state need to develop and implement model guidelines for the use of Artificial Intelligence in its Decision Support Systems. The use of Artificial Intelligence will revolutionize disaster management by predictive analysis, rapid damage assessment, optimizing resource allocation and early warning systems.
This will be helpful in forecasting with greater accuracy by analyzing vast datasets of historical weather patterns, automatically analyzing data immediately after a disaster to identify the worst-affected areas for prioritizing resource deployment, suggesting the optimal distribution of manpower, relief materials, and equipment based on real-time ground needs along with enhancing the precision of public alert systems, ensuring timely and targeted evacuations.
He further said that these guidelines will ensure that AI is used ethically, transparently, and effectively, serving as a powerful tool to support human decision-makers and save critical time during emergencies.
He said that a major challenge in post-flood recovery is the management of massive quantities of muck, silt and debris cleared from homes and buildings. To address this problem in an environmental and health friendly manner, a standardized protocol for muck disposal will be developed.
This protocol will focus on identifying and designating the disposal sites, soil conservation through bio-engineering, reuse and recycling of debris for protective structures. Chief Secretary directed to expedite the process of setting up of the NDRF headquarters at Mandi and establishment of Regional Response Centres at Nalagarh of Solan district and Rampur of Shimla district.
Director General of NDRF Piyush Goyal said that NDRF organize various types of training courses for capacity building and SDRF may select the required training type from its website. Accordingly, the training will be imparted to the SDRF of Himachal Pradesh.
Member National Disaster Management Authority Krishna S Vats also shared his views on strengthening the SDRF. Additional Director General of Police Satwant Atwal Trivedi highlighted activities of the HP-SDRF and asserted the need for strengthening the force in the present scenario.
Additional Chief Secretary Kamlesh Kumar Pant, Director-cum-Special Secretary, Revenue-Disaster Management DC Rana, DGM of NHAI Regional Office Shimla Rakesh Deepak attended the meeting along with others while Deputy Commissioners Mandi Apoorva Devgan joined virtually.