Disaster management

— Disaster management has assumed unprecedented importance these days with the realisation that the destructive impact of any disaster can be mitigated to a great extent if the necessary preparedness is there. While it is impossible to stop the occurrence of natural disasters like earthquake or tsunami or even floods, the resultant loss can be minimised if we initiate adequate measures before, during and after the calamity. Assam’s location on the highly seismic zone besides the perennial problem of recurring floods make it all the more imperative that we evolve a pragmatic disaster management mechanism. The reality, however, presents a picture in stark contrast. The absence of a flood monitoring system and sharing of knowledge with upstream States ensures that we are often caught on the wrong foot when floods strike. The abysmal state of relief and rehabilitation of the flood-affected belies all tall claims of the government authorities regarding management of post-flood situations. An emergency situation demands greater coordination among different departments, voluntary bodies and the media. But it is invariably a situation of chaos and confusion that confronts us during a period of disaster. Natural disasters apart over which man can have little or no control, our handling of situations caused by man-made disasters or accidents also exposes how little prepared we are in meeting such eventualities. A single incident of fire in any of the congested areas of the city is enough to prove our incompetence in handling emergency situations. It is also highly questionable how many of the buildings that have spurted in the city following the real estate boom adhere to strict fire-safety norms. Places like shopping malls, banks, hotels, hospitals, etc., are frequented by thousands of people every day, and any disaster –whether it is a fire or an earthquake – can cause loss of human lives at an unprecedented scale unless the preparedness is there. Safety mechanisms apart, it is equally important to have the staff of such commercial hubs trained in the basics of disaster management. Then, the people in general seem to be surprisingly unaware about the dos and don’ts in disaster-related emergency situations. In view of the vulnerability of the State to disasters, there ought to be a concerted effort from all concerned – government and non-government agencies – to enhance the general level of awareness on this front. Disaster management should also form part of the education curricula. Then, with road accidents emerging as another major disaster, claiming well over a thousand of lives every year in the State, we need to have road-side trauma centres and mobile emergency medical services besides effecting reforms in traffic management. source: assam tribune