SRINAGAR: In view of the news reports about the devastating earthquake in Kashmir region, the government is convening a high level meeting on February 23 to discuss the disaster preparedness.
Divisional Commissioner Kashmir Asgar Ali Samoon told KNS over phone that a meeting to discuss the disaster preparedness by the government will be held on February 23 wherein measures that are needed to be taken shall be discussed at threadbare.
Earlier, the reports revealed that the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) in an assessment found that almost 59 per cent of India is “vulnerable to moderate or severe seismic hazard”.
Startlingly it also found that most buildings in sub-urban areas are “non-engineered and built without adhering to earthquake resistant construction principles… Traditional houses are being replaced with modern reinforced cement concrete (RCC) buildings, often without compliance to building codes and bye-laws”.
The NDMA reports that between 1990 and 2006 India has experienced six major earthquakes that have resulted in deaths of over 23,000 people and caused enormous loss to infrastructure.
The NDMA echoes an ominous warning that “very severe earthquakes are likely to occur anytime in the Himalayan region, which could adversely affect the lives of several million people”. But a complacent government and civil society do not seem to care much about these forewarnings.
The Divisional Commissioner said that in order to aware people about the safety measures which are needed at the time of the natural calamity will be discussed in detail at February 23 meeting. We have invited experts and also the disaster management department. We wil decide the future course of action, Div Com said. (KNS)
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