Uttarakhand Chief Secretary Anand Bardhan on Friday reached the State Emergency Operation Centre to take stock of the heavy rainfall situation across the state and sought district-wise updates from the District Magistrates and gathered detailed reports on the current condition of rainfall and its impact in vulnerable regions.
The Chief Secretary emphasized that officials must take the warnings and forecasts issued by the India Meteorological Department very seriously and prepare accordingly to minimize the risks of landslides, road blockages, and flooding.
Bardhan directed that necessary arrangements should be made in advance in all sensitive areas to ensure timely relief and rescue operations in case of emergencies. He stressed that there should be no delay in shifting affected families to safer places. All required resources must be placed in vulnerable districts before the weather situation worsens.
The Chief Secretary also instructed the District Magistrates to ensure that compensation is provided quickly to disaster-affected families in line with government norms. Relief camps must be equipped with essential supplies, medical teams, and proper facilities for women, children, and the elderly.
Restoration of Essential Services
Highlighting the importance of uninterrupted basic facilities, Bardhan ordered that services such as road connectivity, electricity supply, and drinking water must be restored without delay wherever they are disrupted. He directed officials to coordinate across departments so that relief material can be delivered promptly to affected communities.
He also instructed the state and district-level disaster control rooms to remain on 24/7 alert mode during the monsoon season. Quick communication and constant monitoring should ensure that field teams can respond immediately to any incident.
Public Awareness and Information
The Chief Secretary placed strong emphasis on keeping the general public well-informed during such situations. He asked officers to launch a wide campaign for the promotion of the Sachet App, a mobile application designed to deliver weather updates and alerts to citizens in real time. He said that maximum people must be connected to the app so that timely information about rainfall, landslides, or flash flood risks can reach everyone.
Senior Officials Present
The meeting at the State Emergency Operation Centre was attended by senior officials including Additional Chief Executive Officer (Implementation) DIG Rajkumar Negi, Joint Chief Executive Officer Mohd. Obaidullah Ansari, and other senior officers of disaster management and law enforcement.
The Chief Secretary reiterated that the state government, under the guidance of Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, is committed to ensuring preparedness and quick response to protect citizens during the monsoon season.
