Leh, October 6: Member, National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), Lt General (Retd) Syed Ata Hasnain, chaired a meeting with all the stakeholders/officers of UT Ladakh to review and discuss Post-Covid Disaster Management Challenges in Ladakh in the DC Conference Hall.

At the outset, Nodal Officer, NDMA-NSRMP, Ladakh, apprised the chairman of the present situation in the disaster management preparedness through a PowerPoint Presentation. He also shared about the rescue equipment and machinery procured by the UTDMA, including heavy motor vehicles.

Lt General Hasnain reviewed the vulnerability of Ladakh vis-a-vis post-Covid-19 challenges. He also took stock of the preparedness of UT Ladakh concerning various natural calamities/disasters such as landslides, avalanches, flash-floods, earthquakes, etc. Stressing the importance of staying alert and prepared, Lt General Hasnain stressed the need to mitigate loopholes, wide dissemination of information and strengthen the men and machinery to face any eventuality.

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Lt Gen Hasnain impressed upon the UTDMA and DDMA officials to take regular review meetings on disaster preparedness with all the stakeholders, including the Indian Army, BRO and NGOs. He advised that Emergency Operation Centres (EOC) should be immediately activated 24X7 at both UT and District levels. While stressing the importance and relevance of conducting regular mock drills, Lt Gen Hasnain also recommended that resource inventories of important stakeholders like BRO should be prepared and widely publicised to augment the efforts of DDMAs.

Earlier, DC Kargil, who is the Chairman of DDMA Kargil, briefed about challenges faced by Kargil and informed about the Covid-19 preparedness. ADC Leh/CEO, DDMA Leh also apprised the chair about the draft District Disaster Management Plan Leh being prepared within the frameworks of five main pillars of Disaster Management as per National Disaster Management Plan (NDMP), post-2015 global recommendations/frameworks, Prime Minister’s ten-point agenda for disaster risk reduction, social inclusion etc. He also apprised that the plan is also being prepared based on a comprehensive analysis of the District Profile, hazard, risk, vulnerability and capacity analysis of the district, major standard operating procedures (SOPs), and hazard seasonality of the district.

Chief Engineer Vijayak also apprised the chair about the measures taken by the BRO regarding Disaster Management in UT Ladakh. Likewise, Director Health Service Ladakh and CMOs of both districts informed the chair about the status of Covid-19 third wave preparedness, including oxygen bed and oxygen cylinder, and the Covid-19 vaccination status in Ladakh.

Later on, the Superintendent of Police, UTDRF, UT Ladakh, apprised the chairman about the status and preparedness of the SDRF vis-à-vis disaster management with a special focus on avalanches, flash floods, GLOF (Glacial Lake Outburst Flood).

District Magistrate/ chairman DDMA, Kargil; Additional Director General of Police;  Chief Engineer, Vijayak HQR, Kargil; Additional Deputy Commissioner, Leh; Senior Superintendent of Police, Kargil; Director Health Service Ladakh; Director FCS& CA, Ladakh; Chief Engineer, PWD, Chief Engineer, PHE; Department, Ladakh;  Chief Medical Officer, Leh; Chief Medical Officer, Kargil; Superintending Engineer Mechanical Division, Ladakh; Deputy SP, SDRF/ UT DRF, Leh; Nodal Officer, NDMA-NSRMP Ladakh attended the meeting.