Shimla, July 3: Calling for a major overhaul of Himachal Pradesh's disaster management strategy, Chief Secretary Kamlesh Kumar Pant on Friday stressed the need for stronger community participation, wider use of technology and seamless coordination among government agencies to build a disaster-resilient state in the face of increasing climate-induced disasters.
Addressing a post-disaster review seminar jointly organised by the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) and the Himachal Pradesh State Disaster Management Authority (HPSDMA), Pant said Himachal's fragile Himalayan ecology and difficult terrain make it highly vulnerable to cloudbursts, flash floods, landslides and other natural disasters.
The repeated devastation witnessed during recent monsoons has exposed both the strengths and shortcomings of the existing disaster management framework.
Learning from every disaster is the key to saving lives in future, the Chief Secretary said.
While coordinated efforts by the Armed Forces, NDRF, SDRF, police, fire services, district administration, Panchayati Raj institutions, volunteers and local communities had significantly reduced casualties during recent disasters, every emergency also revealed operational gaps that must be addressed before the next crisis strikes.
Operational bottlenecks continue to hamper rescue operations, Pant observed.
He pointed to recurring disruptions in road connectivity, communication breakdowns, inaccessible terrain, adverse weather, logistical constraints, delayed availability of real-time information and inadequate inter-agency coordination as major challenges faced during disaster response.
Technology-driven disaster management is the way forward, he said, adding that the review seminar would help document best practices and recommend improvements to make disaster response faster, more coordinated and more efficient.
Communities remain the first responders in any disaster, Pant emphasised, underscoring the need to empower citizens through awareness campaigns, capacity-building programmes and volunteer networks. He said resilient communities are the foundation of an effective disaster management system.
The Aapda Rakshak Yojana will strengthen grassroots response, he said. The initiative aims to create a trained cadre of community volunteers capable of providing immediate assistance in search and rescue, first aid, evacuation and relief until professional rescue teams reach affected areas.
Scientific resource mapping can dramatically improve emergency response, the Chief Secretary said. He called for maintaining dynamic district-level inventories of manpower, machinery, medical facilities, shelters, emergency equipment, transport assets and communication infrastructure. Integrating these databases with Geographic Information Systems (GIS) would ensure quicker mobilisation and optimal deployment of resources during disasters.
Pant also appreciated the continued technical support being extended by the NDMA in strengthening Himachal Pradesh's disaster preparedness and expressed confidence that the recommendations emerging from the seminar would further enhance institutional capacity and coordination.
NDMA lauds Himachal's disaster response but seeks stronger preparedness. NDMA Member and Head of Department Krishna S. Vatsa praised the state's handling of the 2023 and 2025 disasters and appreciated the proactive functioning of the SDRF.
However, he stressed the need to further strengthen Himachal's early response mechanisms and disaster mitigation capabilities to deal with increasingly frequent climate-related emergencies.
Senior officials from the NDMA, SDMA, NDRF, Armed Forces, paramilitary forces, various government departments and district administrations participated in the seminar, sharing experiences and best practices aimed at making Himachal Pradesh better prepared for future disasters.
Vice Chairman SDMA Deepak Rathore, NDMA Member Rita Missal and Director-cum-Special Secretary (Revenue & Disaster) Dr Pushpendra Rana were also present.
