Poonch Administration Initiates Overhaul of Civil Defence Mechanism for Enhanced Emergency Preparedness
Poonch, May 17, 2025:
In response to recent instances of cross-border shelling, the Poonch District Administration has taken a major step towards strengthening local emergency preparedness by revamping the Civil Defence system. The initiative was launched during a high-level review meeting chaired by Additional District Development Commissioner (ADDC) Pankaj Magotra.
The meeting emphasized the need to reactivate and streamline the existing Civil Defence and Village Guard (VHG) structure, ensuring a more responsive and organized framework during emergencies.
Key Measures Announced:
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Updating Volunteer Lists: Existing Civil Defence and VHG volunteers will be reassessed, with inactive members removed, and a time-bound recruitment drive initiated to enlist new, motivated individuals.
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Grassroots-Level Structure: A robust setup will be established from village (Mohra) to tehsil levels, mandating at least one trained volunteer per Mohra or urban ward, with preference given to ex-servicemen.
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Deployment of Nodal Officers: Naibat and Tehsil-level nodal officers will be appointed for coordination and management of volunteers.
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Emergency Equipment Allocation: Selected volunteers will be equipped with rescue kits and safety gear, to be kept ready for any disaster or emergency situation.
Training and Awareness Plans:
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A comprehensive three-month training calendar will cover volunteers from Civil Defence, Voluntary Homeguards, Aapda Mitras, NCC, and NSS.
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Places of worship and key public infrastructure (e.g., hospitals, civic installations) in Poonch town will be geo-tagged for identification and quick response in emergencies.
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Civil Defence sirens will be installed at tehsil headquarters in Phase 1 of the project.
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The administration will also roll out mass awareness campaigns, educating vulnerable populations about how to respond to different siren alerts during emergencies.
Meeting Attendees Included:
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Additional Deputy Commissioner
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Assistant Commissioner (Revenue)
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DySP Civil Defence-SDRF
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District Sainik Welfare Officer
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Chief Warden & Inspector SDRF
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NCC & NSS Incharges
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Consultant, Disaster Management (Relief, Rehabilitation & Reconstruction)
ADDC’s Vision:
Speaking on the occasion, ADDC Magotra underlined the administration’s vision to create a resilient and community-driven emergency response model, involving both youth and experienced ex-servicemen.
“A strong Civil Defence network is essential not only for timely disaster response but also for building a culture of preparedness and awareness at the grassroots level,” he said.
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