Dehradun: Chief Secretary Anand Bardhan held a meeting at the Secretariat on Thursday with officials of concerned departments and district magistrates to review preparations for disaster management and security arrangements during Kumbh Mela 2027. He directed officials to complete all preparations in advance, keeping possible disasters and emergency situations in mind, so that swift and effective action can be ensured in the event of an emergency during the fair.
The Chief Secretary directed officials to prepare an emergency action plan along with area-specific plans for Kumbh Mela 2027. Calling for a sector-wise evacuation plan for the entire Kumbh area, he said an integrated disaster management plan should cover crowd management, traffic, evacuation and fire-control arrangements. Clear standard operating procedures should be established for dealing with potential situations such as earthquakes, floods and chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear (CBRN) emergencies.
He directed officials to ensure the availability of necessary equipment for flood, earthquake and CBRN disaster management. The Chief Secretary clarified that merely purchasing equipment would not be sufficient; its operation, regular maintenance and training of personnel would also be essential. He directed officials to assess equipment gaps and ensure the necessary arrangements for Kumbh Mela 2027 through the State Disaster Response Force.
The Chief Secretary directed that the anti-terrorism squad be further strengthened and that regular mock drills be conducted, particularly keeping major festivals and periods of peak crowding during the fair in mind. Realistic emergency exercises should be carried out to test alternative routes and rapid-response arrangements. He said the objective of all arrangements should be to minimize response time during an emergency.
He also emphasized the use of artificial intelligence and modern technology. He said a systematic data repository should be created using information and experiences gathered from various departments during the Kumbh Mela, so that it can be utilized for future large-scale events. Officials were also directed to seek technical and expert assistance from the Information Technology Development Agency, the Disaster Management Department and other concerned institutions, and to engage experts wherever necessary.
The Chief Secretary called for strengthening communication systems and developing an effective mechanism to prevent rumours. In view of increased crowds and peak periods during the fair, he directed officials to enhance mobile network capacity and provide additional mobile towers and communication facilities wherever required.
He also directed officials to strengthen the control room and hold necessary coordination meetings with all concerned departments to complete preparations within the stipulated timelines. The Chief Secretary said Kumbh Mela 2027 will be a large-scale event, and all departments must work in coordination and remain fully prepared to deal with any possible disaster.
Secretary Shailesh Bagauli, Nitesh Kumar Jha, Vinay Shankar Pandey, Garhwal Commissioner Anand Swaroop and Mela Officer Sonika, along with senior officials of the concerned departments and district magistrates, attended the meeting.
