The district administration, Almora, will conduct mock drills in different Nyay Panchayats of the hill district in the days ahead to sensitise citizens about the challenges of natural calamities and about how to be prepared to deal with such situation in the tough hilly terrain in the aftermath of a natural calamity.
Calling upon the citizens to take necessary precautionary measures to protect themselves from nature’s fury on the occasion of the International Disaster Minimisation Day in Almora on Wednesday, Akshyat Gupta, District Magistrate, Almora, said that the district administration will launch natural disaster related mock drill campaign in 10 nyay panchayats of the district to make the people particularly those who belong to the rural areas aware about the challenges of the natural disaster and how to be prepared to deal with such tough situation in the aftermath of a natural calamity in this hilly terrain.
At the same time he also urged the citizens to construct quake resistant houses to protect lives and properties. Besides, we must not construct residential structures or other buildings to house school, shops and other offices in such places which are sensitive from natural disasters like landslides, point of view, Gupta suggested.
In this regard, we have to launch awareness campaign and take necessary steps to conserve our forests, he added.On the occasion of the International Disaster Minimisation Day on Wednesday, experts also called for inclusion of a chapter on disaster management in schools particularly in higher education. They were of the view that teaching students about the challenges of the natural calamity in schools and colleges as part of their course, can go a long way in making the masses aware about the same.
In the meanwhile, similar programmes to mark the International Disaster Minimisation Day, were also held elsewhere in the region on Wednesday.