Keylong, June 12
Lahaul-Spiti district administration on Friday reviewed preparedness measures for flash floods, landslides, Glacial Lake Outburst Floods (GLOF) and other natural disasters during a state-level tabletop meeting organised by the state government ahead of the mega mock drill scheduled for June 15, 2026.
All districts of Himachal Pradesh participated in the meeting through online mode to assess disaster management preparedness and coordination mechanisms.
During the meeting, Deputy Commissioner of Lahaul-Spiti Kiran Bhadana delivered a detailed presentation on the district’s preparedness plans and disaster scenarios related to GLOF incidents, floods, flash floods, landslides and forest fires.
The Deputy Commissioner said the district administration had undertaken extensive preparations to ensure a swift response in the event of potential GLOF and flood situations. Measures have been taken to strengthen communication systems, streamline relief and rescue operations, and improve coordination among departments.
She said the responsibilities of nodal officers had been clearly defined, and all concerned departments had been instructed to function in accordance with predetermined Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs). Local communities, self-help groups, and field-level staff are also being trained and sensitised to minimise loss of life and property during emergencies.
Bhadana specifically highlighted the possible GLOF threat from Ghepan Lake and its potential impact on the Sissu region. She informed the meeting that floodwaters could reach Sissu within nearly 20 minutes if the lake breaches.
To tackle such situations effectively, the administration has prepared a special action plan focusing on timely warnings, safe evacuation, rapid deployment of rescue teams, and ensuring the availability of essential resources in affected areas.
The Deputy Commissioner also shared details regarding possible flash floods in Shaks Nala and the resulting risks of landslides, road blockages, and other secondary impacts. She said the roles of various departments, security forces, and disaster management agencies had been clearly defined to ensure a prompt and coordinated response during emergencies.
Detailed preparations for rescue operations, the evacuation of affected residents, the continuity of communication systems, and the deployment of necessary resources were also discussed during the meeting.
Bhadana stated that the district administration was continuously working with the Indian Army, the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP), the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), and other agencies to further strengthen the district’s disaster management framework.
She added that multiple disaster management agencies would actively participate in the mega mock drill scheduled for June 15. The exercise aims to test the effectiveness of Standard Operating Procedures, assess inter-agency coordination, and identify gaps in disaster response systems.
Among those present at the meeting were Superintendent of Police Shivani Mehla, DFO Inderjeet Sira, DSP Rashmi Sharma, BDO Dr Vivek Guleria, Senior Executive Engineer (Electricity) Suryakant Sharma, Executive Engineer Jal Shakti Ajay Gupta, DPO (ICDS) Sanjay Dogra, District Agriculture Officer Chaudhary Ram, Deputy Director Animal Husbandry Dr Sudarshan Kumar, Chief Medical Officer Manoj Gandhi, officials from the Public Works Department, Border Roads Organisation, NDRF, ITBP and representatives of various departments.
