Western Command and NDMA Host Landmark Disaster Management Conclave to Bolster India’s Resilience

CHANDIMANDIR, January 29, 2026 — In a major stride toward reinforcing India’s humanitarian and internal security frameworks, HQ Western Command, in strategic partnership with the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), successfully concluded the Western Command Disaster Management Conclave.

The high-level event gathered military leaders, policymakers, and academic experts at Chandimandir to spearhead a shift from a reactive response model to a proactive, resilience-based architecture.

Lt Gen Manoj Kumar Katiyar, GOC-in-C Western Command, joined by NDMA members Lt Gen Syed Ata Hasnain (Retd) and Shri Rajendra Singh, emphasized the Indian Army’s role as the “preferred responder” and highlighted the necessity of Civil-Military Fusion to optimize relief efforts during the critical “Golden Hour.

The conclave focused heavily on technological innovation, featuring breakthroughs in AI-integrated early warning systems, remote sensing for landslides, and vulnerability reduction in river basins presented by experts from IIT Mandi and the Ministry of Power.

An interactive exhibition showcased India’s indigenous capabilities, including satellite-linked communication modules and specialized high-altitude rescue gear designed to function during total network failures.

With the identification of key “Action Points” for 2026—such as a unified command structure and joint training calendars—the seminar established a new national benchmark for inter-agency cooperation, ensuring that India remains equipped with a “zero-fail” ecosystem to protect its citizens and infrastructure against future calamities.