Experts hold two-day workshop in Kashmir on disaster management

Experts held a two-day workshop in Kashmir to devise a comprehensive strategy to deal with any natural calamity and capacity building to ensure effective as well as quick human resource response to any disaster.

The seminar to finalize the draft on Jammu and Kashmir State Disaster Management Plan (JKSDMP) was organised in collaboration with the TATA Institute of Social Sciences, Mumbai.

The inaugural session was chaired by Jammu and Kashmir Chief Secretary, Muhammad Iqbal Khandey at Sher-i-Kashmir International Conference Centre (SKICC) in Srinagar city on Tuesday.

The Director of the TATA Institute, T.Jaya Raman, said their aim is to formulate an efficient, effective and comprehensive Disaster Management plan for the state incorporating all the aspects.

"Many states have prepared such plans. We are assisting Jammu and Kashmir government and obviously disaster plans which cover all aspects of disaster management from prevention, risk reduction, preparedness, response, recovery; these are, of course, of critical value to the well being of people of the state," said Raman.

Another co-organiser, IG, Home Guards and Disaster Management, Cheing Phonsung, said the plan will be dealing with management of natural calamities like earthquakes, cloudburst, flash floods, avalanche and landslides, snow blizzards, wind storms, fire and drought.

"This (workshop) is of great importance, because it will enable preparedness. Different departments are involved in this; it will generate good coordination, and will also create awareness for general public," he said.

"The phenomena of urban flooding like the one recently witnessed in Srinagar and road safety and traffic management should also find due place in the Plan," added Phonsung.