Northeast Desk, 5th May: On May 4, the annual monsoon preparedness meeting for North Sikkim district convened at the election hall of the District Administrative Center in Mangan. Chaired by District Collector Hem Kumar Chettri, the meeting saw the presence of key officials including Superintendent of Police Sonam Detchu, Additional District Magistrate Vishu Lama, Sub-Divisional Magistrates, Block Development Officers, and heads of district-level government departments. Representatives from the Border Roads Organization, Indo-Tibetan Border Police, and Central Water Commission also attended.
The primary objective of the meeting was to deliberate on the roles, responsibilities, and preparedness of various departments in anticipation of potential disasters during the upcoming monsoon season. District Collector Chettri lauded the efforts made during the flash floods in December last year but cautioned that this monsoon might present more challenges. He instructed all departments to designate nodal officers and maintain close coordination to ensure efficient disaster management.
Special attention was given to stockpiling essential commodities for vulnerable areas and identifying disaster-prone settlements, particularly in Toong, Naga, and Rel areas, to implement necessary precautions. The Border Roads Organization received guidance to strategically position manpower and machinery, with additional personnel on standby in high-risk zones.
Throughout the meeting, department heads provided updates on their preparedness status and highlighted existing challenges. The District Collector assured them of the necessary support. Additional District Magistrate Vishu Lama emphasized the importance of coordinated efforts among departments to achieve efficient results and read out the roles and responsibilities assigned to each department.