Sringar, August 14 (KNS): In a decisive step towards strengthening disaster preparedness and response, Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo tthursday chaired a high-level meeting to review the implementation of the Incident Response System (IRS) in Jammu and Kashmir.
The IRS is a structured and standardized mechanism aimed at replacing ad-hoc measures with a well-coordinated, accountable, and efficient disaster response framework.
The meeting was attended by Principal Secretary DMRR&R; Principal Secretary PWD; Director General Fire & Emergency Services; Commissioner Secretaries of FCS&CA and Information Department; Secretary Transport; Director Information; DG Codes; DG Budget, and other senior officers, while Deputy Commissioners from across the UT joined virtually.
Speaking on the occasion, the Chief Secretary underscored the critical importance of resource mapping at the district level and directed the Disaster Management Department to provide necessary formats and guidelines to facilitate the process.
Highlighting the UT’s vulnerability to natural and anthropogenic disasters, Dulloo called for full operational readiness through regular mock drills, periodic assessments, and seamless coordination to ensure timely and effective emergency responses.
Principal Secretary DMRR&R, Chandraker Bharti, informed that the primary objective of the IRS is to establish a unified chain of command and clearly defined roles for disaster response teams to minimize loss of life and property. The system comprises trained composite teams capable of handling all aspects of disaster response, thereby enhancing accountability and operational efficiency.Click Here To Follow Our WhatsApp Channel
The meeting was apprised of key milestones in IRS implementation, including the UT-level notification issued on June 24, 2025, assigning roles and responsibilities to the Incident Response Team. A one-day workshop was held on July 18, 2025, in Srinagar, to familiarize officers with their roles under IRS, which also saw the launch of an IRS handbook detailing mechanisms, roles, and responsibilities. District-level training sessions are scheduled across Kashmir and Jammu divisions from August 19 to October 6, 2025.
NDMA guidelines have been circulated to District Disaster Management Authorities (DDMAs) and concerned departments. Key IRS designations in J&K include the Chief Secretary as Responsible Officer, Administrative Secretary PDD as Incident Commander, DGP as Operations Section Chief, Administrative Secretary DMRR&R as Planning Section Chief, and Divisional Commissioners as Logistics Section Chiefs for respective divisions.
It was revealed that notifications of IRS structures at divisional and district levels will be issued soon in consultation with the DDMAs and NDRF. The focus remains on sensitizing DDMAs to notify IRS structures, frame SOPs for system activation, hold monthly IRT meetings, conduct regular mock drills, audit and update resources on the IDRN portal, and ensure mandatory training and role-awareness sessions for all designated officers.
The Department of Disaster Management, Relief, Rehabilitation & Reconstruction (DMRR&R) reiterated its commitment to fostering a resilient and disaster-ready Jammu and Kashmir through structured systems, capacity building, and community engagement.(KNS)