Exactly 102 year ago, on April 4 1905, Kangra region of Himachal Pradesh was struck by a magnitude 7.8 earthquake. On that day, more than 20,000 people were crushed under collapsing building. The District Administration, Shimla , NGO SEEDS India, and the school children and residents of Shimla commemorated the tragic event by participating in a public symposium at the Shimla Ridge today. The event served as a reminder to the people that Himachal Pradesh is in an earthquake vulnerable zone, but with good preparedness, precious lives and property can be saved.
Residents of the town as well as visiting tourists thronged the ridge in large numbers to see the colourful display put up by about 500 school children, and teams from Himachal Home Guards/Civil Defence and Fire Brigade. The event focused on remembering the persons who lost their lives in the tragic earthquake, and on making a resolve to make Himachal Pradesh safe from future earthquakes. There were earthquake drills by school children, which enthralled the audience. The children demonstrated how to protect themselves in the event of an earthquake, how to evacuate from unsafe buildings, how to rescue injured friends, and how to administer first aid. They were displaying the lessons they have learnt over the past year under the School Earthquake Safety Initiative, Shimla (SESIS), a programme implemented across Shimla district by SEEDS in collaboration with Himachal Pradesh Government. SESIS has implemented model building safety works as well as training of teachers, students and others in schools across the district. The programme is funded by the European Commission's Humanitarian Aid Department, and supported by international NGO Christian Aid. e district. The programme is funded by the European Commission's Humanitarian Aid Department, and supported by international NGO Christian Aid.
At the symposium Himachal Home Guards/Civil Defence and Fire Brigade teams also displayed professional search and rescue acts, such as rescue of casualties trapped in high rise buildings.
Speaking at the event, Mr. Pradeep Kumar, the Shimla District Public Relations Officer, emphasized the need for public participation, particularly participation of school children in disaster preparedness in the region. "The District Administration is very conscious of the seismic vulnerability of Shimla, and is organizing to take specific, steps as part of larger state level initiatives on disaster preparedness", he said. He added that the school safety initiative, taken up as a pilot programme in Shimla, has had very positive effects, and will be further expanded. The project has gained momentum with support from the Himachal Pradesh Government's Education Department, Revenue Department and the Shimla District Administration.
Mr. Bishnu Pandey, earthquake safety expert from the United Nations Centre for Regional Development, Japan, who was also present at the event said that the Kangra Earthquake anniversary is a reminder that the entire region is earthquake prone. He added that "since the last major earthquake over a hundred years ago, the population of the region had increased manifold and a large number of unsafe buildings have been constructed on steep slopes". According to him "the earthquake safety efforts of the government departments, NGOs and the people of Himachal Pradesh, particularly the school children, are very timely and laudable".
[ Any views expressed in this article are those of the writer and not of Reuters. ]
