POONCH: District Development Commissioner Poonch, Inder Jeet today directed Army, Disaster Management, MED and Civil Defence to keep their men and machinery ready to deal with any unforeseen incidents amid the forecast of incessant rains as predicted by the India Meteorological Department (IMD).
He was chairing a meeting of senior functionaries to review flood mitigation measures in the district. The meeting was attended by Senior Superintendent of Police, Vinod Kumar; Additional Deputy Commissioner, Dr. Basharat Hussain; Chief Planning Officer, Madan Lal; Assistant Commissioner Development, Zahir Kaifi; Chief Medical Officer, Dr G.A Malik; SE Hydraulics, District Social Welfare Officer, CEO Municipality, CEO Education, ARTO, AD food, Army representatives besides officials from other concerned departments.
The DDC directed officials of Army, Disaster Management, MED and Civil Defence to keep their men and machinery ready with tents, sand bags, life jackets and other rescue equipments, JCB, Snow Clearance machines etc. to deal with any unforeseen incidents arising out of incessant rains as predicted by the Meteorological Department. He asked the concerned to make available sand bags at vulnerable locations especially upstream and downstream of S.K Bridge and Kalai Bridge and other populated locations as a precautionary measure.
The meeting discussed measures for protection at places prone to flood like Betar nallah at Degwar, Sawjian river at Azmabad mandi, Khanetar Nallah, Mandi Nallah, Kalai Bridge, Dingla river, S.K Bridge, Bela Potha, Bela Sanai, Fazalabad and Sailan in Tehsil Surankote, Downstream of Kalai Bridge on the right Bank, Dingla, Ajote, downstream of Batad covering Purani Poonch etc. Several other specific issues were discussed i.e; flood forecasting, functioning of Flood Control Room and duty chart, Mitigation measures etc. The DC directed the concerned to make District Emergency Operation Centre functional and publish its contact numbers in print media. He asked to identify the Helipad area and make arrangements for accommodation for the rescued, in case of any eventuality. It was informed in the meeting that there is an adverse weather Forecast alert on 19, 20 and 21 July.
The DC asked the Additional Deputy Commissioner to issue an order under section 144 to prevent public movement near rivers or any other flood prone areas during monsoon. The DDC also reviewed the medicine stock position and Ambulance availability in the Hospitals.
