Time To Move From Disaster Response To Disaster Preparedness

The devastation unleashed by flash floods and landslides in Poonch and Rajouri is a grim reminder of Jammu and Kashmir’s vulnerability to nature’s fury. At least twelve lives have been lost, several missing, entire families have been buried under debris, and countless homes have been washed away. They are the shattered dreams of families who woke up to a nightmare on Sunday morning. The heart-wrenching incident in Surankote, where eight members of a single family were buried alive, underscores the fragility of life in the region’s mountainous terrain. A two-year-old boy among the dead, a mother and her children trapped under collapsed houses — the tragedy is compounded by the knowledge that the Meteorological Department had already warned of heavy rainfall till July 23. Yet, the scale of destruction suggests that warnings alone are not enough. Chief Minister Omar Abdullah’s decision to cut short his Delhi visit and personally monitor the situation reflects responsible leadership. His directive for six-hourly situation reports, deployment of rescue teams, and assurances of swift relief are commendable. Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha’s assurance of immediate aid and the evacuation of 130 people to relief centres are steps in the right direction. However, the question that must be asked is: why are such disasters repeatedly met with reactive responses rather than proactive prevention? The vulnerability of the Poonch-Rajouri belt is well-documented. Landslides, flash floods, and cloudbursts are recurring phenomena in the region. The government must invest in early warning systems, strengthen disaster-resilient infrastructure, and enforce strict building regulations in vulnerable areas. The clearance of roads, restoration of power and water supply, and prevention of water-borne diseases must be prioritised in the immediate term. The administration must ensure that compensation reaches affected families without delay, that missing persons are traced, and that the injured receive quality medical care. As the weather advisory warns of more rain, the government must remain on the highest alert. The tragedy of Poonch-Rajouri should not be repeated. It is time to move from disaster response to disaster preparedness – to build a Jammu and Kashmir that can withstand nature’s fury rather than merely react to it.