Ganderbal, Feb 26: The Directorate of Students Welfare (DSW) and Health Centre, Central University of Kashmir (CUKashmir) Monday kick-started a two-day workshop on disaster management at varsity’s Tulmulla campus here.
The workshop was inaugurated by Dean Academic Affairs, Prof. Shahid Rasool, in the presence of Dean DSW, Dr. Irfan Aalam, Medical Officer, (Administration), Dr. Sheeba Nazir. Senior functionaries of the university, Medical Attendant, Mr. Javid Ali, security staff and students were also present on the occasion.
Addressing the inaugural session, Prof. Shahid Rasool, said, the primary objective of organising the workshop is to sensitise and aware the students and employees about the importance of proper rescue and management techniques during the natural and man-made disasters. “By promoting fire safety awareness and providing resources for effective emergency response, the organizations can minimize the impact of fire accidents, thus safeguarding the precious lives and property,” he further said. Prof. Shahid said that Kashmir, is unfortunately witnessing an increase in fire incidents, particularly during the winters, posing significant threats to lives, property, and the environment. “The need of the hour is to make continuous efforts to raise awareness about fire safety precautions and enhance community preparedness to mitigate the risks,” he added.
Assistant Director, Fire and Emergency Services, Er. Mir Aqib, in his presentation gave insights into the science behind fire, including its behavior, ignition sources, and spread patterns. He talked about proactive measures to prevent fire incidents, such as proper storage of flammable materials, particularly LPG cylinders, electrical safety practices, and fire-resistant construction techniques. Er. Mir Aqib also called for developing comprehensive emergency response plans tailored to different scenarios, including evacuation procedures, communication protocols, and emergency equipment utilization.
In the second session, the F&ES employees, through a mock drill, demonstrated the ways and measures to tackle the dousing flames, by using different fire extinguishing methods.