Table Top Exercise on Disaster preparedness held at Kathua
DC emphasises on operational readiness for quick response, rescue
KATHUA, February 16: Deputy Commissioner Kathua Rahul Pandey today chaired a meeting regarding Table Top Exercise on disaster preparedness with officers of NDRF, SDRF, Police and District Officers of line departments.
The meeting held threadbare discussion on the Response, Rescue and Rehabilitation preparation plan and strategy to mitigate the damage and loss of lives and property during high intensity earthquakes and other disasters.
Underlining the importance of coordinated and glitch-less communication between departments during a major disaster like earthquake or flood, the Deputy Commissioner said that communication is the first casualty of earthquake or flood and said that a robust communication plan involving men and material needs to be worked out beforehand.
The DC stressed that concerned departments need to maintain satellite phones and wireless communication devices to be used for quick response, search and rescue.
The officers held a brainstorming discussion on how to carry out damage assessment at the time of disaster so that resources can be allocated for disaster response and relief operation.
Plan to respond and evacuate people living in affected areas, communication tools to be used to inform common citizens, evacuation plan for stranded passengers, handling of distress calls, district disaster resources network, mitigation of threat of aftershocks, overwhelming capacity of health institutions were also discussed.
Besides, the DC stressed on identification of existing Infra alongwith open spaces where people could be temporarily shifted at the times of disasters for safety. He also directed for preparing vulnerable maps for hazards and compilation of details of buildings and structures regarding their strength.
Regarding the assessment of damage due to the earthquake, DC stressed on the need to have a contingency plan including Communication and Transportation plans and ground teams for preparing the report of loss.
Meanwhile, experts on the occasion highlighted the need for earthquake resistant buildings and other infrastructure, communication on wheel and communication channels, so the impact of hazard shall be mitigated.
The DC further called for disseminating the information besides acquainting the locals upto the panchayat levels during monthly Gram Sabhas with regard to disaster preparedness.
Among others, the meeting was attended by SSP Kathua, ADDC, ADC, Teh HQ, AD FCS&CA, SE JPDCL, XENs and officers from Fire & Emergency Services.
