Vaishno Devi Shrine To Have Own Disaster Response Force | Burning Issues | PDF Download

• In Jammu and Kashmir, Mata Vaishno Devi shrine will get a dedicated in-house disaster response force by September next year.
• Mata Vaishno Devi shrine is a religious pilgrimage atop the Trikuta hills in Reasi district of Jammu region.
• The Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board is planning to train 180 employees by September next year to prepare a dedicated disaster response force
• The training of the board staffs has already begun at the headquarters of 7th battalion of National Disaster Response Force in Punjab.
• Situated at an altitude of 5200 feet above the sea level in Sub–Himalayan Shivalik (the three peaked Trikuta hills) range is the world famous cave shrine of Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Ji. The pilgrims have to trek nearly 12 Km from the base camp at Katra for the darshan at sanctum sanctorum which remains open round the clock throughout the year.

Disaster Vulnerability of the place

• The unique topography of Shrine in Himalayan Shivalik hills at height of 5200 feetmake it susceptible to the various natural hazards such as earthquakes, landslides, shooting stones, hailstorms, torrential rains and forest fires.
• With such high levels of multi-pronged disaster vulnerability the Board has given special focus to develop strategies which focus on Disaster Risk Reduction and Building resilience as envisaged in Sendai Framework.

Innovations/Interventions in Disaster Risk reduction (DRR)

• As part of prevention and mitigation plan Shrine Board undertook major infrastructural projects like stabilization of active slopes of daunting hills as well as erecting specially designed stone resistant shelter shedsalong the tortuous track and chainlink fencing of whole track for protection from accidental falling.
• A well defined Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) has been laid down for preventive clearance of slopes from boulders/stones for disaster risk minimization from falling stones/boulders. This speaks of intention of authorities to go extra mile in DRR

HIGHLIGHTS

• Training: The six-week training of the first batch of 25 staff started on May 18 and is almost heading for completion.
• Tasks
• Mock drill : In March, a team of the NDRF conducted a mock exercise on the yatra track near the Bhawan area in order to analyze and evaluate the level of preparedness to most effectively and promptly respond to any emergency situation.
• The shrine board is also planning to set up an emergency operation centre as part of its disaster preparedness.

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