Officials Must Remain on 24×7 Alert Mode During Monsoon: Chief Secretary Anand Bardhan
Chief Secretary reviews monsoon preparedness at SEOC; directs swift restoration of roads, essential services, and uninterrupted coordination with districts
Dehradun, August 6: Amid continuous rainfall and adverse weather conditions across Uttarakhand, Chief Secretary Anand Bardhan conducted a comprehensive review of the state’s monsoon preparedness at the State Emergency Operations Centre (SEOC) on Thursday. Stressing that the safety of citizens is the government’s highest priority, he directed all departments to remain on 24×7 alert mode and ensure seamless coordination for effective disaster response.
During the review meeting, the Chief Secretary took detailed updates from Disaster Management and Rehabilitation Secretary Vinod Kumar Suman on rainfall conditions, river water levels, landslide-prone areas, blocked roads, rescue and relief operations, power and drinking water supply, communication systems, and other essential services.
He instructed officials to maintain continuous monitoring of weather developments and ensure immediate response to any emergency situation.
Continuous Coordination with Districts
The Chief Secretary directed the SEOC to maintain round-the-clock coordination with all district administrations. He also interacted with District Magistrates over the phone to assess the ground situation and issued necessary instructions.
He emphasized that roads blocked due to landslides or heavy rainfall should be reopened on priority to minimize inconvenience to residents and pilgrims. Adequate machinery, including excavators and earthmovers, should be pre-positioned at vulnerable locations, while effective drainage arrangements and pumping equipment must be kept ready in waterlogged areas.
District Magistrates Asked to Conduct Field Visits
Chief Secretary Bardhan instructed all District Magistrates to conduct regular field inspections of vulnerable areas and closely monitor relief and rescue operations. He stressed inter-departmental coordination to ensure prompt disaster response.
Special Focus on Char Dham, Kanwar and Kailash Mansarovar Yatras
The meeting also reviewed arrangements for the Char Dham Yatra, Kanwar Yatra, and Kailash Mansarovar Yatra. The Chief Secretary assessed road conditions, landslide-prone stretches, pilgrim movement, medical facilities, drinking water, sanitation, and traffic management.
He directed that pilgrimage operations should strictly depend on real-time weather conditions. If heavy rainfall or road blockages occur, pilgrims must be halted at safe locations with adequate food, drinking water, medical care, and shelter until conditions improve.
Advance Warning Before Releasing Water from Dams
The Chief Secretary instructed authorities to maintain 24-hour monitoring of river water levels. People living along riverbanks should be alerted in advance and shifted to safer locations if required.
He also directed that downstream residents be informed before releasing water from dams and barrages. Neighboring states should also be alerted in time whenever necessary to minimize risks.
Restore Essential Services on Priority
He emphasized that alternative communication systems should be activated immediately if regular communication networks are disrupted. Satellite phones must remain operational at all times, with daily connectivity between the SEOC and District Emergency Operations Centres (DEOCs).
Power supply, drinking water, and communication services should be restored on the highest priority. Additional teams must be deployed immediately wherever disruptions occur.
Weather Alerts Must Reach the Last Mile
The Chief Secretary directed officials to ensure that all weather alerts issued by the Meteorological Department reach even the remotest citizens without delay. He called for strengthening the information dissemination system from the state level to districts, blocks, tehsils, and villages to minimize disaster-related losses.
The meeting was attended by DIG (SCEO Implementation) Rajkumar Negi, JCEO Dinesh Kumar Punetha, Duty Officer Kalam Singh Chauhan, Bhawani Ram Arya, and other disaster management officials.
