Uttarakhand: The Chief Secretary held a video conference with all District Magistrates regarding preparations for the cold wave and issued necessary instructions

Chief Secretary Anand Bardhan held a meeting with all District Magistrates via video conferencing on Tuesday regarding preparations for the cold wave in the state. The Chief Secretary instructed all District Magistrates to appoint nodal officers from various departments. He also directed them to prepare a Cold Wave Action Plan and take action accordingly.

The Chief Secretary said that all districts should identify areas affected by snowfall and frost. He also instructed that arrangements be made for bonfires in public places. He said that temporary night shelters should be arranged in all districts for protection against the cold wave and snowfall during the winter season, and separate nodal officers should be appointed for this purpose.

The Chief Secretary instructed that arrangements be made for the distribution of blankets as needed. He also directed that a list of doctors working in emergency medical services in the districts, along with their mobile numbers, and an adequate stock of essential medicines be maintained. He further instructed that sufficient fodder and medicines be stocked for livestock, and a list of veterinary doctors for emergency services be prepared.

The Chief Secretary directed that all districts ensure an adequate supply of food, drinking water, and fuel until the end of March to protect against the cold wave and snowfall during the winter season. He also instructed that food, drinking water, and fuel be stocked in all remote areas of the state affected by heavy snowfall by the end of December.

The Chief Secretary also instructed that necessary equipment be arranged for clearing snow-covered roads, and that signage with reflectors be placed in areas affected by snowfall/frost. He said that a meeting should be held with trekking organizations and individuals, and they should be clearly instructed to ensure all necessary arrangements for the complete safety of tourists sent on trekking expeditions.

Present on the occasion were Principal Secretary R. Meenakshi Sundaram, Commissioner Kumaon Deepak Rawat, Commissioner Garhwal Vinay Shankar Pandey, Secretary Dipendra Kumar Chaudhary, Dr. S.N. Pandey, Vinod Kumar Suman, and Additional Secretary Mrs. Ranjana Rajguru, along with other senior officials, were present.