SRINAGAR: Intensifying efforts towards addressing the Glacial Lake Outburst Floods (GLOF) hazard in Jammu & Kashmir, mock exercises on GLOF disaster scenario were organized by the Department of Disaster Management, Relief, Rehabilitation& Reconstruction (DMRRR) under the chairpersonship of Principal Secretary, DMRRR, Chandraker Bharti, in Anantnag and Kulgam districts, having high-risk Glacial Lakes.
These exercises were aimed at inculcating a culture of preparedness among the community and first responders, besides reviewing the efficacy of the disaster managers and the management plans of the districts to deal with the GLOF disaster.
These exercises were conducted to identify the gaps in resources, communications and systems in Anantnag and Kulgam with respect to GLOF Hazard.
Being conducted in coordination with vulnerable districts of Anantnag and Kulgam, these exercises helped in inculcating a sense of preparedness and sensitisation among the district officers, line departments and all emergency support functionaries regarding GLOF hazard.
The mock exercises were preceded by exhaustive orientation-coordination conferences and Table Top Exercises in which all aspects of GLOF management were discussed in detail.
As part of the mock drill program, a simulated Glacial Lake Outburst Flood (GLOF) scenario was enacted, assuming downstream flooding and multiple landslides. Emergency responders including local communities, officials from various support departments, SDRF, NDRF, Army and Police, assembled at the staging area with resources. Subsequently, the teams were deployed to the simulated affected areas, where medical teams conducted search and rescue operations, triage and provided medical aid and relief, followed by damage assessments.
The exercises were conducted in coordination with various agencies, including the fire service, SDRF, Civil Defence, NDRF, the Local army unit, CRPF, ITBP, the Forest Department, the Health Department, the police and all the stakeholders.
This kind of mock exercise will be conducted in all the districts of the UT where high and medium-risk glacial lakes are located. The Department of DMRRR will ensure to take all measures for disaster risk reduction and enhancing resilience in the UT of J&K.
