Highlighting the role of home guards and civil defence volunteers in all situations, Additional Director General of Police (Coordination) P L Gupta emphasised the need for adequate preparedness to deal with various disasters and other exigencies in the state.
He recalled certain natural disasters of recent past and explained how preparation could make a huge difference in terms of human casualties.
Stating that Jammu & Kashmir falls in seismic zones IV and V, and having its 13 district headquarters declared as multi-hazardous by the Centre, Gupta said "therefore the need of harmonising between capacity building and frequency of disasters was immensely desired."
The ADGP also recalled the significance of role of home guards raised after the Chinese aggression of 1962 and their contribution in creating awareness amongst people about responses to serious situations.
Further, he referred to emerging trends of climatic change, melting of glaciers, flash floods etc. Which posed serious challenges before the society.