In view of the impending monsoon season, Divisional Commissioner Kashmir, Anshul Garg, on Monday convened a high-level meeting with Deputy Commissioners of the Valley to review flood mitigation measures, disaster preparedness, and the status of emergency response infrastructure across the region.
The meeting was attended by Deputy Commissioners, senior officers from the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), the Irrigation Department, and the Assistant Commissioner Central. During the review, the Divisional Commissioner assessed the preparedness of districts with regard to updating the India Disaster Resource Network (IDRN) inventory, formulation of contingency plans, availability of rescue shelters, identification of flood-prone villages and low-lying areas, network shadow zones, and the availability of satellite communication sets with field officers.
He also reviewed district-wise data on operational helipads, boats, dewatering pumps, awareness programmes, and mock drills conducted to enhance disaster response capabilities. Emphasising the need for proactive preparedness, the Divisional Commissioner directed all Deputy Commissioners to replenish critical resources and ensure timely updating of the IDRN portal with details of rescue equipment and other essential resources.
He further underscored the importance of round-the-clock functioning of District Emergency Operation Centres and instructed district administrations to formulate comprehensive contingency plans to facilitate swift rescue operations and effective flood mitigation during emergencies.
To strengthen inter-agency coordination, he directed the district administrations to share the geographical coordinates of all operational helipads with the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), SDRF, Police, and the Army. Special instructions were issued to the district administrations of Ganderbal and Anantnag to undertake Yatra-specific disaster management preparations to ensure the safety and security of pilgrims during the forthcoming pilgrimage season.
The Divisional Commissioner also instructed the Deputy Commissioner Baramulla to facilitate the allotment of land for the establishment of a permanent SDRF deployment at Gulmarg, aimed at enhancing emergency response capacity in the tourist destination.
Also, he urged all Deputy Commissioners to convene meetings of their respective District Disaster Management Authorities (DDMAs) to strengthen inter-departmental coordination, optimise resource sharing, and sensitise all stakeholders regarding disaster preparedness and response mechanisms. He stressed on ensuring a coordinated response framework to effectively tackle any flood-related exigencies during the monsoon season.