In order to combat flood situation arising due to recent rainfall across the valley, the Divisional Commissioner Kashmir Baseer Ahmad Khan today directed all Deputy Commissioners of the valley to conduct beat patrolling of Jhelum embankments, other rivers and streams on regular basis which are flowing in their respective districts.
He directed the officials to ensure that vulnerable spotsare plugged immediately to avert any flood threat. For effective floodmitigation plan, Divisional Commissioner also directed to conduct Mock Drillsof Flood management in every tehsil of Kashmir Division immediately
The Divisional Commissioner issued the directions whilereviewing the preparedness and arrangements in view of flood situation.
All Deputy Commissioners which are also the Chairman ofDistrict Disaster Management Authority informed the meeting through videoconferencing regarding the preparations and arrangements to combat floodsituation in their respective districts.
It was further revealed that 24×7 Joint control rooms wereestablished in every Deputy Commissioners office across the valley whereofficers of concerned departments provide information regarding Flood likesituation. The meeting was informed that Emergency Operating Centre at Humhamais fully functional to meet any exigency. Irrigation and Flood Control(I&FC) has kept 12.5 lakh sand bags in ready mode.
The Divisional Commissioner directed Disaster Managementdepartment to open Divisional Flood Joint Control Room at Hari-Niwasimmediately to monitor the daily progress of district control rooms. All policestations will be linked up with the district Flood Joint Control rooms forimmediate help to the people living in low lying areas. SMC was directed to makeavailable dewatering pumps at all low lying areas.
For effective flood mitigation plan, the DivisionalCommissioner directed all Deputy Commissioners and concerned officers toprepare an inventory of resources, including men, low lying areas, establishmentof relief centres, Satellite Phones, availability of Geo quality of sand bags,JCBs, Ambulances, De-watering pumps, evacuation plan, storage of food items,List of Nodal Officers, water tankers, water supply schemes, SDRF & NDRFteams, Life saving Jackets, NGOs working for disaster management, database ofvolunteers machinery and boats available from every department in theirrespective districts with location of control room and number of village levelcommittees, identify locations for helipads, where helicopters can land in caseof any eventuality and procurement of necessary items like bailey bridges andother items immediately to curb flood situation immediately. Also send thecomplete information to Divisional Commissioner’s office, the officials weredirected.
The Divisional Commissioner called all officers for closecoordination between various departments to deal with flood situationeffectively at the time of emergency so that fool proof mechanism will be madeand better services delivery to the people could be ensured.
Deputy Commissioner Srinagar Dr Shahid Iqbal, SSP Srinagar,Additional Commissioner Kashmir TasaduqHussain Mir, Director Disaster Management Aamir Ali, Chief Engineers ofI&FC, PDD, PHE, UEED, Joint Commissioner SMC, Joint Director Information& Public Relations Abid Hussain, SP telecom, Deputy Director Fire &Emergency Services, SP Control room, Dy. Commandant SDRF & NDRF, AssistantDirectors of Health Services & MET, officers of SMHS, SKIMS hospitals andother concerned officers were present in the meeting, whereas all DeputyCommissioners of the valley participated the meeting through videoconferencing.