Srinagar, July 18, 2025: In a major step to bolster disaster preparedness, the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir today hosted a high-level workshop on the Incident Response System (IRS).
The workshop was attended by Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo, Principal Secretary Home and DMRR&R Chandraker Bharti, senior administrative officers, Divisional Commissioners, departmental heads, and national disaster management experts including Brigadier Kuldip Singh (Retd.), former Senior Consultant, MHA.
In his address, CS Dulloo underscored the need to build a culture of preparedness at all levels.
“Disasters strike without warning. Every citizen is a first responder, and every incident teaches us something valuable,” he said.
Highlighting J&K’s vulnerability to earthquakes, GLOFs, landslides, cross-border tensions, and climate change, Dulloo emphasized the importance of technology-enabled, community-driven, and institutionally sound preparedness frameworks.
He proposed the customization of IRS protocols at district and block levels, a Disaster Dashboard to track resources and vulnerable zones, and called for integration of GIS mapping, weather forecasting, drone surveillance, and regular mock drills.
Principal Secretary Bharti described IRS as a newly introduced structured response system for J&K, modeled on international best practices and adapted by the NDMA.
He highlighted steps like:
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GLOF and landslide mitigation plans
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Integration with the India Disaster Resource Network (IDRN)
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Decision Support Systems
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Establishment of Emergency Operation Centers (EOC)
In a detailed session, Brigadier Singh emphasized that no region is immune to disasters and urged for integrated planning, community participation, and defined roles across NDMA, SDMA, DDMA, and block-level institutions.
The event also saw the launch of a comprehensive IRS Handbook, which outlines the command structure, roles, and responsibilities—from the Chief Secretary as the Response Officer to Incident Commanders, Liaison Officers, and Media Coordinators.
The workshop concluded with a collective resolve to strengthen Jammu and Kashmir’s disaster resilience and ensure readiness at all levels.
