Srinagar: In the wake of incessant rains, the Deputy Commissioner (DC) Srinagar, Dr. Bilal Mohi-ud-Din Bhat on Monday chaired a meeting of concerned officers to review the flood control and mitigation preparations in the district.
Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Ashish Mishra was also present at the meeting.
According to an official press release, at the onset, the DC, who is also the Chairman of the District Disaster Management Authority (DDMA), stressed on utmost coordination among line departments and formulating an efficient plan to ensure prompt response to any flood-like situation in the district. He directed the officers to remain in a state of readiness by mobilising all men and machinery on the ground, particularly at vulnerable spots to avoid any loss of human lives or property damage.
He laid emphasis on round-the-clock monitoring of vulnerable flood-prone spots and ensuring timely dissemination of information among the people viz flood alerts, evacuation points/centres, transportation plans etc so that people are updated about the evacuation/rescue plans well in time. He directed the concerned officers to focus on the identified vulnerable spots so that rapid action is ensured in case of need or to arrest embankment breaches, if any.
The DC further directed the concerned departments to formulate rescue plans, identify safe control room locations and also prepare a backup plan. He asked for strengthening communication with the ground-level staff and people during any emergency so that people do not panic and get actual information about rescue measures and places available for the public.
The CMO was directed to ensure that important machinery/medicines at health institutions is kept at safer places. He was also asked to evolve proper SOPs to deal with the floods as like the ‘Code Blue’ being followed in hospitals, where every concerned individual is fully acquainted with their responsibilities in times of emergency.
Similarly, the Deputy Director FCS&CA department was asked to make necessary arrangements to protect the foodgrains from any damage due to rising water levels. The department was asked to distribute rations for the month of May 2024 among the consumers of the district in advance in the wake of the inclement weather predictions.
Likewise, SMC, Mechanical Engineering, Mechanical Irrigation, SRTC, State Motor Garages and other line departments were directed to ensure all flood mitigation.
Additional Deputy Commissioner, Syed Ahmad Kataria, Additional Deputy Commissioner, Dr Khalid Hussain Malik, Chief Planning Officer, Fayaz Ahmad, Superintending Engineers of Hydraulic, Mechanical Irrigation, R&B, Chief Medical Officer, Deputy Directors of Tourism, FCS&CA, SRTC, State Motor Garages, Officers from Irrigation & Flood Control and other concerned departments were present in the meeting.
