JAMMU, January 28, 2026 — Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo today chaired a high-level meeting to overhaul Jammu and Kashmir’s disaster management framework, shifting the Union Territory’s strategy from reactive response to proactive, technology-driven mitigation.
Reviewing the roadmap developed by the Department of Disaster Management, Relief, Rehabilitation & Reconstruction (DMRR&R), Dulloo emphasized the urgent need for mandatory pre-monsoon readiness and seamless inter-agency coordination.
The new strategy incorporates critical lessons from recent flash floods in Kishtwar and cloudbursts in Doda, mandating that all districts finalize their Disaster Management Plans (DDMPs) and conduct large-scale mock exercises by June.
To ensure the safety of millions of pilgrims, the Chief Secretary directed the implementation of RFID-based tracking for the Machail Mata Yatra and shrine-specific emergency drills at the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine.
The roadmap introduces cutting-edge technological interventions, including the deployment of Doppler Radars and Automatic Weather Stations in high-risk zones, alongside the use of drones for delivering essential supplies to snow-bound or cut-off habitations.
Principal Secretary Chandraker Bharti highlighted the activation of District and Sub-Divisional Emergency Operation Centres (EOCs) equipped with redundant communication systems like satellite phones to eliminate existing operational gaps.
Furthermore, the plan fast-tracks strategic infrastructure projects, such as the Indri Bridge and river training works on the Chenab and Tawi rivers, to reduce flood susceptibility.
By integrating ‘Aapda Mitra’ volunteers and local divers into the first-response network, the Jammu and Kashmir administration aims to create a people-centric safety net that prioritizes anticipatory action and rapid restoration of essential services during extreme weather events.
