Catchment area of Doyang Dam in Wokha district. (Photo Courtesy: Wokha.nic.in)
Need for proper SOP specific to search operations in Doyang highlighted
Wokha, July 15 (MExN): Wokha District Disaster Management Authority (WDDMA) held a meeting to discuss on disaster during monsoon season at DCs conference hall, Wokha on July 15.
According to a DIPR report, Deputy Commissioner & Chairman WDDMA, Orenthung Lotha who chaired the meeting, in his opening remark said that due to COVID-19 lockdown, all the other activities have been stalled and the district could not conduct the meeting on time.
However, the DC stated that the district also faced some incident in the past few months like fire incident like jungle burning at Vankhosung area for jhum cultivation clearance, landslide at Wokha-Bokajan road, drowning case at Doyang River, damage of agricultural crops and plantation by wild elephants.
EAC Sanis highlighted on the drowning incident at Doyang, SDRF gave a briefing on their activities in the district, Road & Bridges highlighted on maintenance of roads, and the Health and Family Welfare highlighted on the present status on COVID-19 in the district.
Sharing the experiences from the last two search operations at Doyang due to drowning, EAC Sanis, Seyiekhrietuo Solo, said that need for a proper SOP specific to search operations as it has become a yearly affair.
He highlighted there are some practical difficulties faced during search operation like communications break down as the Doyang Hydro Electrical Project (DHEP) is a massive shadow area, where mobile network is unreliable, thus the requirement of RT sets and portable PA systems is must for quick direction/response and updates and for easy public announcements during such operations.
He also opined that a timely co-ordination with the DHEP officials is required as the switching the machine off indefinitely during search operations is not possible.
Solo said that as Doyang River is the biggest water body in the state which is prone to drowning incidents suggested that in order to minimize human intervention during the search and rescue operation the district immediately require equipment like better boats, Deep Diving Gear, Drones, Sonar Scan, Under Water Cameras.
Commandant Home Guards & Civil Defense, Vikiho, highlighting about their activities said, “We have 30 dedicated State Disaster Response Force under the establishment of District Commandant HG &CD Wokha.” These personnel have undergone training on Disaster Management such as medical First Responder (MFR), collapsed structure search & Rescue (CSSR) and emergency methods of rescue (EMR).
He added that the service of HG& CD (SDRF) personnel can be utilized for search & rescue of trapped victims/casualties/dead bodies, administering and providing first aids to victims before transporting to advance care unit or Hospital.
During the meeting, the Department of Road & Bridges while reporting on damage report stated that in spite of the monsoon season all the PWD existing roads are plyable.
Chief Medical Officer, Wokha CW Tungoe said that, so far only one positive case has been reported at present in Wokha District. There are no cases of quarantine spread or community spread till date, although Wokha district is bordered with Assam state. Early awareness of the pandemic appropriate drastic and people-centric measures as well as public support is the main factors and added that the district also successfully mobilized the strength and the participation of the whole political system and community in making Pandemic prevention a priority. Preventing the risk from outside, treating disease effectively as well as sacrificing immediate economic benefits to protect people’s health and lives.
The Department of Food & Civil Supplies while highlighted on the status of rice distribution during the pandemic crisis ANBY is a part of the Government of India initiative for economic measures for providing food grains free of cost to the stranded migrants and labourers who are not covered under National Food Security Act or State Public Distribution System (PDS). The free ration includes 5Kgs of rice per person per month and one kilogram of chana per person per month, this scheme will last for a period of two months that is May and June 2020.
