Uttarakhand: Preparations to deal with major disasters, mock drills will be conducted in hospitals and schools, emphasis will be laid on reducing response time

Uttarakhand is witnessing the havoc of rain this year too. The Meteorological Department has issued a yellow alert for heavy rains in most parts of the state till July 16. Due to heavy rains, there is a possibility of disaster-like situation in the state, for which the Disaster Management Department is insisting on conducting mock drills to improve its preparation.

Let us tell you that on June 30, mock drills were conducted in five districts of the state regarding flood management. At the same time, now the Disaster Management Department is preparing to conduct mock drills in hospitals and schools. The purpose of this mock drill is to increase the activity of relief rescue teams and reduce the response time.

The Disaster Management Department says that after monsoon rains, disaster-like conditions are created in many areas. In such a situation, the rescue team has to face many difficulties in disaster-affected areas. Mock drills are being conducted continuously to know how to overcome those difficulties, how to reach the victims in the least time.

According to the information received from the Disaster Management Department:

On July 28, mock drills related to earthquake and fire will be conducted in five to seven hospitals of the districts.

• Apart from this, on August 20, mock drills related to collapse of school building, waterlogging, earthquake and fire will be conducted in one school of every tehsil of the state.
• On September 11, mock drills related to fire, stampede, waterlogging, chemical leakage will be conducted in one big factory, mall, complex, apartment and stadium in every district.
• Along with this, it has been decided to conduct mock drills regarding CBRNE disaster (a disaster related to the use of chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear material) in all the districts on October 6.

Loss of crores of rupees expected this year too: The Disaster Management Department says that every year during the disaster season, infrastructure and other things worth thousands of crores of rupees are damaged. This year too, losses of thousands of crores of rupees are expected. At present, due to the disaster-like situation in many parts of the state, it is being estimated that hundreds of crores of rupees of loss must have been incurred so far, but till now its complete assessment cannot be done by the departments.

According to the information received from PWD (Public Works Department), an estimated Rs 40.51 crore has been spent so far in opening the roads obstructed due to heavy rains and landslides. Every year before the monsoon season, crores of rupees are released by the Disaster Management Department from the State Disaster Relief Fund (SDRF) and the State Sector Budget, under which about Rs 340.50 crore has been released to relief and rescue operations and linear departments so far. In this, a total of 65 crores have been released to all the districts from the State Disaster Relief Fund for relief and rescue, a total of 52 crores for reconstruction, a total of 13 crores for preparation and capacity development.

Apart from this, an additional Rs 1 crore each has been released to all the districts from the State Disaster Relief Fund, i.e. a total of 13 crores. Along with this, a total of Rs 13 crore has been released from the State Disaster Reduction Fund and Rs 19.50 crore from other funds for all districts from the state sector. That is, a total of Rs 175.50 crore has been released from the SDRF fund and the state sector budget.

• Rs 165 crore released to the linear departments from the SDRF fund
• Rs 15 crore has been released to the Forest Department for relief and rescue.
• Rs 50 crore has been released to the PWD for reconstruction.
• Rs 20 crore has been released to PMGSY for reconstruction.
• Rs 20 crore has been released to the School Education Department for reconstruction.
• Rs 20 crore has been released to the Jal Sansthan for reconstruction.
• Rs 20 crore has been released to the Drinking Water Corporation for reconstruction.
• Rs 20 crore has been released to the UPCL for reconstruction.

So far, Rs 340 crore has been released to various districts and departments for relief, rescue and reconstruction. In the month of May, money is given to the districts on the basis of demand. Many times, the demand does not come from the districts, despite this the money has been released, under which some budget was released in the districts in the month of May and some in June.

– Vinod Kumar Suman, Secretary, Disaster Management Department –