Dehradun: On Saturday, Vinod Kumar Suman, the Secretary of Disaster Management and Rehabilitation, visited the State Emergency Operations Center at USDMA. He assessed the ongoing rainfall and disaster management conditions across various districts. Suman reviewed water levels in different rivers, disrupted roads, and the overall rainfall situation in the state. He instructed PWD officials to prioritize the reopening of closed rural roads to ensure an uninterrupted supply of essential goods.
Chief Minister’s Directive
Earlier on Friday, Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami visited the control room and issued directives to all district magistrates to remain vigilant in light of the heavy rain warnings. He emphasized the need for coordination between the Disaster Management Secretary and the district magistrates to effectively handle any potential disaster situations. Suman discussed the status of rain-affected roads, electricity, water, and travel routes with officials at the control room and advised timely exchange of departmental information.
Need for Comprehensive Disaster Study
Suman has instructed district disaster management officials to conduct a detailed study of the disasters that occurred during the monsoon season. He acknowledged the commendable rescue work done by various agencies this year but stressed the importance of evaluating shortcomings to improve future planning.
Live Monitoring of Critical Locations
The USDMA’s Emergency Operations Center is now conducting live monitoring of 16 critical locations, including the Kedarnath Temple. According to USDMA system expert Hemant Bisht, CCTV cameras are being used to monitor these locations to facilitate prompt action in case of any disaster.
