Disaster Management Plans to be Prepared for Every School in Uttarakhand
USDMA and Education Department chalk out strategy; dedicated teams to handle warning, evacuation, first aid, fire safety and search and rescue
Dehradun: In a major step towards strengthening disaster preparedness in educational institutions, School Disaster Management Plans will be prepared for all government and private schools across Uttarakhand. The initiative is being undertaken in accordance with the directions of Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami and Disaster Management and Rehabilitation Minister Madan Kaushik.
A meeting in this regard was held on Friday under the chairmanship of Disaster Management and Rehabilitation Secretary Vinod Kumar Suman with officials of the Education Department and all Chief Education Officers of the state. Detailed discussions were held on strengthening the safety of schools, ensuring a quick and effective response during disasters, and protecting students and school staff.
Secretary Vinod Kumar Suman said that the disaster management plan of every school would be prepared according to its local geographical conditions and potential disaster risks. A local disaster risk assessment will be carried out at the school level, followed by a detailed action plan for safety, evacuation, communication, first aid and rescue.
He said that a joint committee of the Education Department and the Uttarakhand State Disaster Management Authority (USDMA) would be constituted for this purpose.
Local Disaster Risks to be Mapped
Under the school disaster management plan, potential risks in and around each school will be identified. These will include earthquakes, landslides, floods, flash floods, cloudbursts, excessive rainfall, snowfall, avalanches, fires and other local hazards.
Clear evacuation routes will be identified to ensure that students and staff can move safely to designated locations during an emergency. Safe assembly points will also be identified within school premises. Roles and responsibilities of principals, teachers, non-teaching staff and, where appropriate, students will be clearly defined.
Emergency Contact Numbers and First-Aid Facilities
Schools will maintain and prominently display important emergency contact numbers of the police, fire services, health department, State and District Disaster Management Authorities, tehsil administration and other concerned departments.
Schools will also ensure the availability of first-aid kits and essential disaster response and rescue equipment. Students and staff will be trained in safety procedures to be followed during earthquakes, fires, landslides and other potential disasters.
Regular mock drills will be conducted to test the effectiveness of the disaster management plans and identify areas requiring improvement.
Special Arrangements for Students with Disabilities
Special provisions will be made for the safe and rapid evacuation of students with disabilities and special needs. Necessary assistance and support mechanisms will be identified in advance.
The safety of school buildings, classrooms, electrical systems, gas and kitchen facilities, water tanks, laboratories, playgrounds and other critical areas will also be assessed. Necessary measures will be taken to reduce identified risks.
An effective communication mechanism between schools and parents will also be developed for emergencies. Local administration, gram panchayats, communities and available local resources will be integrated into school disaster preparedness systems wherever required.
Six Special Teams to be Formed in Schools
As part of the School Disaster Management Plan, six dedicated teams will be constituted at the school level:
- Warning and Information Team
- Evacuation Team
- First-Aid Team
- Fire Safety Team
- Search and Rescue Team
- Assistance and Psychosocial Support Team
These teams will help ensure immediate and coordinated action during a disaster. Students will be assigned responsibilities according to their age, ability and level of understanding, while teachers and school staff will provide necessary guidance and support.
The initiative aims not only to ensure the safety of students during emergencies but also to make them more aware, prepared and capable of responding to disasters through safety awareness, risk reduction and collective responsibility.
Officials present at the meeting included ACEO Administration Prakash Chandra, ACEO Implementation DIG Rajkumar Negi, DG Education Akanksha Konde, JCEO Dinesh Kumar Punetha and Dr. P.D. Mathur, among others.
