Centre Stresses ‘Zero-Casualty’ Disaster Management Strategy

Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Sunday chaired a high-level meeting to review the country’s preparedness for floods, heatwaves and other climate-related disasters ahead of the monsoon season, while stressing the need for a “zero-casualty” disaster management approach.

During the meeting, Shah directed officials to strengthen early-warning systems, improve coordination between the Centre and states and enhance disaster-response mechanisms across vulnerable regions of the country.

According to a government statement, the Home Minister asked authorities to expand the proposed early-warning network for high-risk glacial lakes in Himalayan regions, including Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, Sikkim, Arunachal Pradesh and Ladakh. He suggested increasing the coverage from 30 to at least 60 lakes with support from the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA).

Shah also called for an integrated flood forecasting system at both the central and state levels to ensure timely alerts and better disaster response during heavy rainfall and flooding incidents.

Emphasising preparedness at the grassroots level, the minister directed all states to constitute and activate Flood Crisis Management Teams (FCMTs) for coordinated rescue and relief operations during emergencies.

The NDMA was also instructed to conduct a study to assess whether states are effectively implementing disaster-management guidelines related to floods, forest fires and heatwaves.

Highlighting the growing impact of climate change, Shah said India needs a comprehensive master plan to deal with changing weather patterns and increasing disaster-related risks. He stressed the importance of improving weather forecasting systems and ensuring that alerts and warnings reach people quickly and effectively.

The Home Minister also underlined the need for water conservation measures, including construction of check dams and water-storage projects, to improve groundwater levels and reduce the impact of heatwaves.

He further suggested the utilisation of the CAMPA Fund for initiatives aimed at maintaining environmental balance and supporting climate-resilient measures.

The meeting was attended by Union Jal Shakti Minister C. R. Patil, senior officials of the Home Ministry, various central ministries and members of the NDMA.