SRINAGAR: Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo on Thursday said every disaster is an opportunity to draw lessons for better preparedness, as he addressed a UT-level workshop on the Incident Response System (IRS) held in Srinagar.
The workshop, aimed at strengthening institutional readiness in Jammu and Kashmir, was attended by senior government officials including Principal Secretary Home and DMRR&R Chandraker Bharti, Divisional Commissioners, Heads of Departments, and disaster management experts such as Brigadier Kuldip Singh (Retd), a former senior consultant at the Ministry of Home Affairs.
In his address, Dulloo underlined the critical importance of citizen awareness and institutional preparedness in the face of Jammu and Kashmir’s complex disaster risks — including earthquakes, landslides, glacial lake outburst floods (GLOFs), and climate-related events. “Disasters do not arrive with a warning. Each capable individual has a responsibility to contribute to disaster resilience by being informed and prepared,” he said.
The Chief Secretary highlighted the need for structured institutional roles, enhanced use of technology like GIS mapping, real-time weather alerts, and drone surveillance. He also called for the development of a ‘Disaster Dashboard’ to map available resources and risk-prone zones across the UT.
“Preparedness is not in paperwork but in lives saved,” Dulloo said, urging greater involvement of communities, NGOs, and trained volunteers, along with regular mock drills and officer training.
Principal Secretary Chandraker Bharti said the newly notified IRS in J&K aims to bring clarity and command structure during crises. He said it follows a model adapted from global best practices and aligned with National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) standards.
Bharti also highlighted key initiatives including mitigation plans for GLOFs and landslides, deployment of decision support systems, integration of the India Disaster Resource Network (IDRN), and the establishment of Emergency Operation Centres.
Brigadier Kuldip Singh, in his detailed presentation, underscored the importance of coordination among various disaster response agencies and community-based preparedness. “No region is immune to disasters. Planning and vigilance must match the pace of development,” he said.
During the event, a comprehensive Handbook on the Incident Response System was released. The document outlines defined roles for officers including the Response Officer, Incident Commander, Nodal Officer, and others, laying down a structured disaster response mechanism for Jammu and Kashmir.
