Srinagar, Dec 30: To be prepared to face any disaster, we not only need preparedness by learning latest of the skills from experts but also revive old traditions, including the spirit of brotherhood and devotion towards great Sufi Awlia-e-Kiram who during their life prayed for prosperity of Kashmir.
 This is what Director Information Khawaja Farooq RenzuShah said on Friday at the valedictory function of the two day disaster preparedness training programme organised by Civil Defence in collaboration with Divisional Disaster Management Kashmir, at Government Degree College (GDC), Bemina. He was talking to Greater Kashmir on the sidelines of the event.
 While referring to a “lesson from the old traditions”, Renzu said, the old houses used to be constructed with such wooden frames, that they withstood calamities like earthquakes, for decades.
 While insisting on the need of learning latest disaster preparedness skills, he equally asked people to try “inculcate spiritual passion in their lives, the way our ancestors had it.”
 “Primarily, one should pray so that disasters shouldn’t come our way but then to be prepared for the same is equally important,”  he  said.
 Referring to the recent predictions by an American expert about earthquake in Kashmir, he cautioned: “Similar predictions were given in the past as well but instead of taking protective measures the China authorities demolished and randomly plundered the holy shrines of sanctuaries old Muslim saints in Kashgar and east Turkistan in the grab of protection to earthquake threat.”
 In his address, Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir Dr Asgar Hassan Samoon Friday said a “prepared community can face disasters as first responders”.
 The programme was held in association with NSS and Deptt of Commerce and Management of GDC, organised under the Urban Risk Reduction Project (URRP).
 The valedictory function among others was attended by DIG Traffic Kashmir Vijay Kumar, Secretary Red Cross, Abdul Jabbar Chakat, HoD Disaster Management Centre IMPA, Dr GM Dar, Principal GDC, Professor GM Tibet Baqal, Dy Controller Civil Defence, Rafiq Ahmed, Dy Director Fire Services, Khurshid Ahmed Bazaz, First Aid Trainer, Dr IPS Bali,  OSD with Div Com Kashmir & Dy Chief Warden Civil Defence, Aamir Ali, besides Divisional Wardens of Civil Defence, including Rahi Riyaz.

Lastupdate on : Fri, 30 Dec 2011 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Fri, 30 Dec 2011 18:30:00 GMT
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