04 April 2025: Chief Secretary Reviewed the Functions of the Disaster Management Department
Chief Secretary Reviews the Functions of the Disaster Management Department Mock Drills to Be Conducted in All Schools Across the State on a Single Day
Dehradun: Chief Secretary Shri Anand Bardhan has directed that disaster management plans be prepared for all hospitals in the state within one month. He instructed Secretary of Disaster Management and Rehabilitation, Shri Vinod Kumar Suman, to inform the Health Department in this regard. The Health Department is expected to hold meetings with Chief Medical Officers and private hospital administrators to formulate a comprehensive Hospital Disaster Management Strategy and Working Plan. He emphasized the need for regular monitoring of hospitals’ preparedness to deal with major disasters.
On Friday, Chief Secretary Shri Anand Bardhan reviewed the functioning of the Disaster Management Department, USDMA, ULMCC, and the U-Prepare Project at the IT Park building of the Uttarakhand State Disaster Management Authority (USDMA). He noted that Uttarakhand is highly vulnerable to various disasters, hence an effective disaster preparedness strategy is essential. Stronger the preparation, more effective the response will be during disasters.
He emphasized the need for vigilance regarding earthquakes, as Uttarakhand falls under seismic zones 4 and 5. He instructed Secretary Shri Vinod Kumar Suman to organize mock drills on earthquake preparedness in district headquarters and other major towns in collaboration with the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA). The earthquake early warning system developed by USDMA and IIT Roorkee should be further strengthened by increasing the number of sensors and sirens. He noted that the stronger the early warning system, the better the disaster response.
Secretary Shri Suman reported that currently 177 sensors and 192 sirens are installed across the state, and the process of adding 500 additional sensors and 1,000 new sirens is underway.
The Chief Secretary also highlighted the importance of disaster management training in schools and colleges. He directed the School Education and Higher Education Departments to coordinate a statewide mock drill in all private and government educational institutions on a single day and to repeat it every three months. He stressed that children should be educated on disaster preparedness from a young age.
He reviewed the rescue and relief equipment provided by USDMA to various departments, including weather forecasting tools and early warning systems for floods, landslides, and earthquakes. He closely observed the operations at the State Emergency Operations Center (SEOC) and expressed satisfaction that the emergency response time under ERSS-112 has been reduced from 21 minutes to 11 minutes.
Among those present were Secretary Shri Vinod Kumar Suman, Additional CEO (Administration) Shri Anand Swaroop, Additional CEO (Implementation) DIG Shri Rajkumar Negi, Additional Secretary Mahavir Singh Chauhan, Finance Controller Shri Abhishek Kumar Anand, Joint Secretary NS Dungriyal, Joint CEO Md. Obaidullah Ansari, ULMCC Director Shri Shantanu Sarkar, U-Prepare Project Director Shri SK Birla, and Deputy Secretary Shri Jyotirmay Tripathi.
Safety Measures for Chardham Yatra The Chief Secretary directed that robust safety arrangements be ensured for pilgrims during the upcoming Chardham Yatra, particularly in the event of any disaster. He called for the installation of real-time warning systems along the travel routes to inform pilgrims of potential risks. He also instructed that weather forecasts be communicated to travelers so they can plan accordingly.
If inclement weather or any disaster occurs during the yatra, pilgrims must be sheltered in safe locations with necessary arrangements in place. Roads blocked due to landslides should be cleared immediately, and vulnerable locations should be equipped with essential machinery and personnel.
Secretary Shri Suman informed that 10 shelter homes are being constructed along the Chardham route, each capable of accommodating 300 people in case of emergency.
Building Guidelines for Seismic Safety The Chief Secretary directed the Disaster Management Department to issue building construction guidelines with a focus on earthquake safety and ensure strict compliance. He emphasized the need for a comprehensive building code tailored to Uttarakhand’s unique geographic and environmental vulnerabilities. Existing bylaws should be amended to incorporate disaster resilience.
Community Training Essential The Chief Secretary emphasized that communities are the first responders in any disaster. Therefore, community-based disaster resilience and training are crucial. Coordination with other departments should be established to enhance public capacity and preparedness. He also stressed the importance of research and learning from past disasters to improve future responses.
He cited the 2023 landslide in Budhakedar region (Toli and Tingad villages) of New Tehri as a prime example where timely community warning helped the administration evacuate the villages by 2 PM, just hours before a major landslide destroyed several homes. This saved many lives and highlighted effective community-administration coordination.
Awareness on Glacial Lakes The Chief Secretary reviewed information about the 13 glacial lakes in Uttarakhand identified by NDMA. He called for necessary measures to prevent future risks from these lakes. Regular satellite monitoring should be ensured, and public awareness regarding glacial lake outburst flood (GLOF) risks should be increased.