Need a proactive disaster response

Being flood and earthquake-prone, Kashmir has always been vulnerable to natural disasters. But is our disaster management up to the challenge? May or may not be. For too long, disaster response in Jammu and Kashmir has been reactive, kicking into action only after calamity strikes. That approach must change.

Encouragingly, a major shift may be underway, as an article in this paper highlights. The government is on the verge of setting up a dedicated Directorate of Disaster Management in J&K, with the Finance Department already clearing the proposal. With Cabinet approval expected soon, the new Directorate will take charge of planning, coordinating emergency responses, and building awareness around disaster risk.

Chief Minister Omar Abdullah’s maiden budget this year reflects a renewed urgency. His government has earmarked ₹39 crore for a Disaster Mitigation Fund, focused on early warning systems and flood preparedness. ₹15 crore each has also been allocated for tackling (Glacial Lake Outburst Flood) GLOFs and landslide risks. On the face of it, these figures suggest that disaster response is being finally taken very seriously.

The stakes are high. We have over 550 glacial lakes, and many of these are at risk of breaching. A sudden glacial lake outburst could devastate downstream communities with little warning, just as it did Ladakh a decade ago.

Similarly, the memory of the 2014 floods in Srinagar, when the Jhelum overflowed and engulfed the city, still haunts those who lived through it. And then there’s the threat of a major earthquake. Scientists warn that J&K is overdue for one, possibly of catastrophic magnitude.

But this isn’t just about allocating funds or creating new bodies. What’s needed is a cultural shift in how we think about disaster preparedness. Environmental regulations must be enforced strictly. Construction in fragile zones must be reined in. Ordinary citizens must be trained as first responders.

Both the Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha and the Chief Minister Omar Abdullah have expressed seriousness about conserving environment and sustainability. But now we need to see action on the ground. We can’t again afford to be reactive to disasters, just as we were in the wake of the 2008 earthquake and 2014 flood.