Mubashir Alam Wani
Srinagar, Dec 10: With the arrival of winter in Kashmir, Srinagar’s District Disaster Management Authority (DDMA) has unveiled and finalised an extensive ‘Winter Preparedness Plan’ for 2024-25 to mitigate risks associated with the region’s severe cold conditions.
DDMA, in the winter preparedness plan, has stressed a proactive approach to ensure safety and functionality during the harsh winter months in the district.
DDMA Srinagar, headed by Dr Bilal Mohi-Din Bhat, stated in his message that this Winter Preparedness Plan was focused on the hazards and risks caused by fog, smog, snowfall, urban flooding, land sliding, and cold waves.
For snow clearance operations, the plan has outlined that a total of 45 snow clearance machines have been allocated for critical routes across Srinagar, ensuring uninterrupted access to hospitals, ration depots, and emergency services.
According to the plan, all roads of District Srinagar fall under the category of ‘Priority 1st’, unlike other peripheral districts where various roads fall under ‘Priority 2nd’. In case of snowfall, the machines shall be operated on their respective roads. The total number of snow clearance machines available with Snow Clearance Control Room Srinagar at present is Forty-Five (45).
The city has also been divided into zones, each with dedicated teams for snow removal and dewatering operations. “The city is divided into four zones headed by zonal sanitation officers who are assisted by 35 ward officers, sanitary inspectors, and sanitary supervisors to supervise the snow clearance,” the winter plan mentions.
For health and emergency services, the plan states that rapid response teams are stationed across zones with emergency supplies like oxygen cylinders, medicines, and heating arrangements. Ambulances and power backups have been readied to address emergencies promptly.
All zonal medical officers have been advised to keep DG Sets with adequate fuel in ready position for power backup. Moreover, the ambulances have also been kept in ready position to meet any emergency.
For energy and utility measures, the plan states that during snowfall, the falling of trees and electrical lines on the road is a usual phenomenon thereby hampering the Mechanized Snow Clearance. Therefore, the Power Development Department / Forestry / Social Forestry Departments have to chip in, to ensure that the fallen trees, debris, electrical lines etc. are cleared and the way is paved for smooth snow clearance by machines
To ensure water supply and maintenance, it outlines measures like insulation of pipelines, standby generators at water treatment plants, and chemical stockpiles to ensure uninterrupted water supply.
“The pipes & control valve chambers shall be covered with protection to avoid damages due to frost during severe winters. Stand-by generators for providing electric supply at Water Treatment Plants are to be made functional and shall be put in operation during power disruption in winter,” it states.
Providing shelter for vulnerable populations during winters, the DDMA Srinagar has laid out provisions to accommodate the homeless, elderly, and other vulnerable groups in shelters equipped with heating and basic amenities.
According to the plan for girl children (less than 18 years), a shelter home at Sanatnagar Housing Colony with an intake capacity of 25 is in place with a basic minimum facility. For boy children (less than 18 years) a similar shelter home has been set up at Nowgam Srinagar with an intake capacity of 25.
An old age home, run by an NGO, namely HOPE through the Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment, New Dehli, with an intake capacity of 25 too, has been established at Baghi Mehtab near Railway Track with basic minimum facilities.
For coordination and communication with emergency control rooms, a District Emergency Operations Centre (DEOC) will operate round the clock, coordinating disaster response and issuing early warnings through the Indian Meteorological Department.
The winter plan states that the Fire and Emergency Services Department has conducted over 100 fire safety awareness programs to educate the public about winter-specific risks.
Regarding food and fuel reserves, buffer stocks of essential commodities like food grains and LPG cylinders have been secured for one month. Srinagar has 51 petrol stations and 24 LPG outlets prepared to meet public demand. Over 1,900 sanitation workers equipped with necessary tools are tasked with clearing lanes and by-lanes manually during heavy snowfalls, according to the plan.
