SRINAGAR: With the arrival of winter in Kashmir, Srinagar’s District Disaster Management Authority (DDMA) has unveiled and finalised an extensive ‘Winter Preparedness Plan’ for 2024-25 to mitigate risks associated with the region’s severe cold conditions.
The DDMA, in its Winter Preparedness Plan has emphasised a proactive approach to ensure safety and functionality during the harsh winter months in the district.
DDMA Srinagar, headed by Dr Bilal Mohi-Din Bhat, stated in his message that this plan focuses on addressing hazards and risks caused by fog, smog, snowfall, urban flooding, landslides, and cold waves.
For snow clearance operations, the plan outlines the allocation of 45 snow clearance machines for critical routes across Srinagar, ensuring uninterrupted access to hospitals, ration depots, and emergency services.
According to the plan, all roads in District Srinagar fall under the category of ‘Priority 1st’, unlike other peripheral districts where various roads fall under ‘Priority 2nd’. In the event of snowfall, the machines will operate on their designated routes. The total number of snow clearance machines available at the Snow Clearance Control Room Srinagar currently stands at 45.
The city has also been divided into zones, each with dedicated teams for snow removal and dewatering operations. “The city is divided into four zones, each headed by zonal sanitation officers, who are assisted by 35 ward officers, sanitary inspectors, and sanitary supervisors to oversee snow clearance,” the winter plan specifies.
For health and emergency services, the plan states that rapid response teams are stationed across zones, equipped with emergency supplies such as oxygen cylinders, medicines, and heating arrangements. Ambulances and power backups have been readied to address emergencies promptly.
All zonal medical officers have been advised to ensure DG sets are fuelled and operational for power backup. Additionally, ambulances have been kept ready to handle emergencies.
For energy and utility measures, the plan highlights the frequent falling of trees and electrical lines during snowfall, which hampers mechanised snow clearance. The Power Development Department, Forestry, and Social Forestry Departments are tasked with clearing debris, fallen trees, and electrical lines to facilitate smooth snow clearance by machines.
To ensure uninterrupted water supply, the plan outlines measures such as insulating pipelines, deploying standby generators at water treatment plants, and maintaining chemical stockpiles.
“The pipes and control valve chambers will be insulated to prevent frost damage during severe winters. Standby generators at water treatment plants will be operational during power disruptions,” it states.
To provide shelter for vulnerable populations, the DDMA has made provisions to accommodate the homeless, elderly, and other vulnerable groups in shelters equipped with heating and basic amenities.
For girls under 18 years of age, a shelter home at Sanatnagar Housing Colony with a capacity of 25 is operational. Similarly, a shelter home for boys under 18 years is established at Nowgam Srinagar with a capacity of 25.
An old age home, operated by an NGO named HOPE under the Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment, New Delhi, with a capacity of 25, has also been established at Baghi Mehtab near the railway track.
For coordination and communication, a District Emergency Operations Centre (DEOC) will operate round the clock to manage disaster responses and issue early warnings through the Indian Meteorological Department.
The winter plan also states that the Fire and Emergency Services Department has conducted over 100 fire safety awareness programmes to educate the public about winter-specific risks.
Regarding food and fuel reserves, buffer stocks of essential commodities, including food grains and LPG cylinders, have been secured for one month. Srinagar has 51 petrol stations and 24 LPG outlets prepared to meet public demand. Over 1,900 sanitation workers, equipped with necessary tools, are tasked with clearing lanes and by-lanes manually during heavy snowfalls, according to the plan.
