Jammu, Jan 28: Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo reviewed measures by the Department of Disaster Management, Relief, Rehabilitation & Reconstruction (DMRR&R) to strengthen Jammu and Kashmir’s disaster preparedness, response, and mitigation framework, emphasizing anticipatory action, technology-enabled early warning systems, and seamless inter-agency coordination.

The meeting, attended by senior officials from PWD, DMRR&R, Forest, GAD, Rural Development, Budget, ERA, and virtually by all District Deputy Commissioners, focused on implementing a comprehensive disaster management roadmap developed using lessons from recent extreme weather events and national-level consultations with NDMA and IMD.
Dulloo stressed strong inter-departmental coordination, senior-level monitoring, and timely updates of District Disaster Management Plans (DDMPs). He highlighted the mandatory conduct of pre-monsoon preparedness measures, particularly for floods and other weather-induced disasters from April to September.
Special focus was laid on RFID-based management of pilgrimages, including the Machail Mata Yatra and the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine, with mock exercises to ensure effective emergency response. The Chief Secretary also directed vigilance for avalanches following snowfall, ensuring prompt restoration of road connectivity, electricity, and drinking water.
The roadmap envisions last-mile dissemination of weather warnings, digital platforms like the SACHET App, functional District and Sub-Divisional EOCs, redundant communication systems, and drone usage for relief delivery to remote areas. Operational gaps from past incidents, such as flash floods, cloudbursts, and floods in Kathua and Doda, are being addressed.
Infrastructure and mitigation measures include Yatri Niwas, helipads, pre-positioned medical and engineering resources, strategic bridges, river training works, and flood reduction projects. SOPs for coordination among UT Government, District Administrations, Armed Forces, CAPFs, BRO, NDRF, and SDRF have been defined.
Major initiatives also cover annual pre-monsoon mock exercises, IDRN workshops, SOPs for drone usage, pre-positioning of HADR equipment, and strengthening local response teams. Sector-specific measures include shrine-specific drills, tunnel contingency exercises, and forest fire response exercises.
The Chief Secretary reiterated that disaster management in J&K must remain people-centric, technology-enabled, and coordination-driven, with preparedness forming the cornerstone of the Union Territory’s risk reduction strategy.