At a meeting in Jammu to assess flood damage across the region, Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Monday called for a critical analysis of all early warning apps (EWAs) and emphasised the need to ensure their accuracy and reach.
Chairing the meeting at Raj Bhavan, he said, “Improving our systems through critical analysis is the only way to move toward a zero-casualty approach.”
Shah also highlighted the need for a critical review of the GLOF Early Warning System. He asked the Meteorological Department and the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) to jointly study the causes of cloudbursts and establish an early warning system.
He stressed that the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) must take steps in this direction by leveraging data analytics and AI. He also asked the Food Corporation of India (FCI) to arrange for additional rations, adding that a decision on offline ration delivery could be made after assessing connectivity in 10 days.
Pointing out that an advanced survey team from the MHA would assess the damage and that further assistance would be provided, Shah announced that a meeting of relevant departments from the Centre and the Union Territory’s administration, along with the Union Home Secretary, would be held within 1-2 days.
The Home Minister directed that MHA teams and the Union Territory government should prioritise damage assessment, and that the Health and Water Departments must proactively focus on water supply and health services.
Accompanied by Jammu and Kashmir Lt Governor Manoj Sinha and Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, Shah had earlier made a whirlwind tour of various flood-hit areas in Jammu city and its outskirts. He said “the Union Territory and all agencies together have significantly reduced potential damage, and through coordinated efforts, we have successfully saved many lives”.
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More than 5,000 people have been evacuated to safer locations as a precaution, he pointed out. Health facilities and food arrangements have been made in relief camps by the UT government, and the situation will return to normal very soon, he said.
He said timely warnings by the Centre and Union Territory Disaster Management Authority (UTDMA) helped in minimising the loss of lives.
Pointing out that multiple roads have been damaged, he said their repair and restoration work has started. Traffic movement has started on most of the roads, and relief has also started arriving wherever needed.
Earlier during the day, Shah visited RS Pura tehsil’s Mangu Chak village, one of the worst hit by flash floods in Jammu district, and assured people of all help from the government in their relief and rehabilitation. He also visited many houses there to take stock of the damage caused by floods.
