Leh, 06 February 2026: The Chief Secretary of the Union Territory of Ladakh, Shri Ashish Kundra, today chaired a meeting of the Ladakh Disaster Management Authority (LDMA) to review disaster preparedness, mitigation measures, and disaster initiatives in the UT.
The meeting was attended by GOC of Army, Lt Gen Hitesh Bhalla, Lt Gen Chhabra, officers from Air Force, BRO, ITBP and Police department.
Officers from NDMA joined online.
During the meeting, Administrative Secretary, Disaster Management, Shashanka Ala, made a detailed presentation outlining Ladakh’s hazard profile, with special emphasis on earthquake and flash flood risks.
The presentation also included a rainfall and snowfall report of Leh town, along with an overview of the District Disaster Management Authority (DDMA) Acts and their implementation.
The meeting deliberated on several key agenda items, including the procedure for seeking post-disaster relief, a review of relief and reconstruction works undertaken by DDMA Leh, and the proposal for preparing a shelf of projects under the proposed Disaster Mitigation Fund of UT Ladakh.
The Chief Secretary emphasised the need to further strengthen disaster mitigation and preparedness mechanisms across the UT. He stressed the importance of robust inter-agency coordination and directed that the Army, Air Force, and Border Roads Organisation (BRO) should operate through an integrated control room to ensure a coordinated and effective response during emergencies.
He mentioned in particular the need for identification of disaster vulnerable spots and also modalities of mitigation and relief operations. He stressed upon the need of an integrated disaster management plan which would incorporate requirements of army, BRO, ITBP and other agencies. He also urged the police department to create a unified disaster mitigation force including civil defence, home guards and ex servicemen. He also underscored the need for identification of helipads and temporary landing grounds for helicopters in the eventuality of disaster.
He also underlined the necessity of providing institutional support for the establishment of an Integrated Command and Control Centre or operational system in Leh, aimed at enhancing real-time coordination, communication, and disaster response capabilities.
The meeting further discussed decisions and approvals sought from the State Executive Committee (SEC), with emphasis on timely action and adherence to established disaster management protocols.
Senior officers from concerned departments, representatives of the Armed Forces, and other stakeholders attended the meeting.
