Jharkhand Chief Secretary Alka Tiwari has instructed the department concerned to ensure prompt disaster relief arrangements to mitigate damages caused by natural disasters. She emphasized that timely relief and rescue operations can significantly reduce the impact of natural calamities. She was presiding over a meeting of the State Executive Committee on Disaster Management on Tuesday.
Deployment of Divers and Financial Assistance for Disaster Victims
During the meeting, it was decided that trained divers equipped with rescue gear will be deployed at identified reservoirs across the state. For this, registered professional fishermen will be trained, and selected divers will receive an honorarium of Rs 10,000.
Additionally, financial assistance of Rs 10 crore has been approved to support the families of victims affected by local disasters such as floods, snakebites, mining-related incidents, lightning strikes, radiation hazards, drowning, stampedes, gas leaks, and road accidents.
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This fund will help district administrations provide immediate relief without waiting for approval, ensuring quick financial aid to affected families.
Recognition of Storms and Heatwaves as Local Disasters
The committee also approved a proposal to declare storms and heatwaves (loo) as state-specific disasters, considering their potential impact on lives and property. This classification will help in formulating targeted relief measures.
To enhance firefighting capabilities in densely populated urban and rural areas, the committee sanctioned the purchase of 39 fire tenders equipped with mini water tender with mist technology. These vehicles will significantly improve fire response efficiency in congested localities.
Identification of Lightning and Drowning Hotspots
The Disaster Management Department, in collaboration with the Jharkhand Space Application Center, will identify hotspots prone to lightning strikes and drowning incidents. Based on these findings, a strategic action plan will be developed to mitigate risks in these high-risk areas.
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The meeting, chaired by Chief Secretary Alka Tiwari, was attended by Home Department Principal Secretary Vandana Dadel, Home Guard and Fire Services DG Anil Palta, Finance Secretary Prashant Kumar, Disaster Management Secretary Rajesh Sharma, and other senior officials.
