Chief Secretary Sanjay Gupta on Friday reviewed the state’s winter preparedness in a high-level meeting held in Dharamshala. Administrative Secretaries, Heads of Departments and all Deputy Commissioners joined the meeting virtually.
Gupta directed all departments to ensure comprehensive arrangements ahead of the anticipated snowfall and heavy winter rainfall. He stressed that snow-clearing machinery must be stationed at strategic locations to prevent inconvenience to the public during extreme weather.
To strengthen coordination, he instructed district administrations to appoint department-wise nodal officers responsible for monitoring and managing winter preparedness and response. These officers will remain accountable for timely action in their respective areas.
Emphasizing proactive measures, the Chief Secretary said all departments must strictly follow the guidelines issued by the Himachal Pradesh State Disaster Management Authority (HPSDMA) to minimize risks to life and property. He underscored the importance of effective dissemination of weather advisories and early warnings. “Warning signals must be clear, timely and easy to understand,” he said.
Gupta also asked officials to identify high-risk zones vulnerable to fire incidents, which typically increase during winter, especially in densely populated localities. He directed the Fire Department to conduct awareness campaigns in sensitive areas and prioritise fire-safety audits of critical buildings such as hospitals, schools and government offices.
To ensure readiness for emergencies, he instructed departments to stockpile essential relief materials well in advance and to complete pre-contracting processes as per the Disaster Management Act, 2005. He called for adequate stocking of food grains, LPG, fuel and other supplies in snow-bound areas to avoid shortages.
The Chief Secretary further directed the PWD, Jal Shakti Vibhag (JSV) and HPSEBL to pre-position manpower and machinery to enable quick restoration of roads, electricity and water supply during disruptions. He emphasized preventive maintenance of power lines and the need for dependable backup systems for hospitals, communication networks and water pumping stations. Joint response teams comprising multiple departments will also be formed to ensure coordinated action during snowfall.
Gupta also called for a dedicated winter traffic management plan, especially for major tourist destinations expecting heavy footfall. He instructed departments to conduct daily testing of ISAT phones meant for emergency communication and noted that all police stations in the state are now equipped with V-SAT facilities for video conferencing during crisis situations.
He directed Deputy Commissioners to keep search and rescue teams on round-the-clock alert to respond promptly to any emergency during the winter months.
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