News & Announcement
Sikkim Observes State Disaster Risk Reduction Day 2026
Gangtok, September 18 (IPR): The Sikkim State Disaster Management Authority (SSDMA), under the Land Revenue and Disaster Management Department, observed State Disaster Risk Reduction Day 2026 at Chintan Bhawan, Gangtok, today under the theme “Prepared Children, Resilient Future.”
The programme focused on strengthening disaster preparedness among children and making safety education a regular part of school and community life.
MLA-cum-Advisor, Land Revenue and Disaster Management Department, Information and Public Relations Department and Information Technology Department, Mr L B Das, attended the programme as the Chief Guest. Chairman, Land Revenue and Disaster Management Department, Mr T T Bhutia, Vice Chairman, State Disaster Management Authority, Professor V K Sharma, Relief Commissioner-cum-Secretary, Land Revenue and Disaster Management Department, Mr Rinzing Chewang Bhutia, and Regional Director, South Asia, GeoHazards International, Dr Hari Kumar, were also present at the programme.
At the outset, Chief Guest Mr L B Das visited the display stalls showcasing search and rescue equipment by the State Disaster Response Force and Fire & Emergency Services before proceeding to the main programme.
Addressing the gathering, Mr L B Das said that State Disaster Risk Reduction Day served as an important occasion to reflect on the State’s experience with disasters and strengthen preparedness for future risks. He recalled the earthquake of 18 September 2011 as a lasting reminder of Sikkim’s vulnerability and said that the 2023 Glacial Lake Outburst Flood (GLOF) further highlighted the changing and complex nature of risks in the Himalayan region. He said that while disasters had brought loss and hardship, they had also highlighted the remarkable courage, solidarity and resilience of communities, whose collective strength and spirit of support helped them face adversity and recover together.
Elaborating on this year’s theme, he said that children were among those vulnerable to disasters, but could also become important agents of safety and preparedness. He emphasised that knowledge gained at school could reach households and communities, and that children should be familiar with appropriate responses to hazards such as earthquakes, fires, landslides and floods.
Mr L B Das highlighted the ‘Friday Safety Five’, based on the concept “Five Minutes Every Friday, Safety for Life,” introduced across Sikkim to make disaster preparedness a regular part of learning. Under the initiative, schools, ICDS centres and Anganwadi centres will devote five minutes every Friday to safety-related activities. These may include mock drills, hazard identification, evacuation procedures and basic emergency response. He stressed that teachers and Anganwadi workers should make the sessions practical and engaging so that children develop confidence and familiarity with safety practices.
He further said that disaster risk reduction could not be limited to schools and called for coordination among government departments, scientific and technical institutions and communities. He highlighted the importance of early warning systems, resilient critical infrastructure, emergency communication, scientific risk assessment and response capacity. He also stressed that development and disaster risk reduction should go hand in hand, with roads, bridges, schools, hospitals and settlements planned with future risks in mind.
Emphasising community participation, Mr L B Das said that Panchayats, urban local bodies, youth, women’s groups, volunteers, educational institutions and community organisations all had an important role in disaster preparedness. He encouraged communities to understand local hazards, recognise warning messages, identify safe places and support those who may require assistance. He said children could also help carry safety messages from schools to their families and communities.
He acknowledged the contribution of disaster management personnel, district administrations, police, armed forces, emergency responders, health workers, engineers, volunteers, teachers and citizens in strengthening the State’s disaster preparedness. He called for the lessons of past disasters to be remembered and passed on to the next generation, while encouraging children to learn, participate in drills, practise safety measures and help others.
Professor V K Sharma highlighted Sikkim’s experience in glacial lake monitoring and its contribution to national initiatives on GLOF preparedness. He said scientific assessments and studies of glacial lakes had helped identify those requiring closer attention and informed preparedness efforts.
Speaking about the role of children, he said that knowledge acquired by students could be shared with parents, friends and relatives, thereby extending disaster awareness beyond the classroom. He referred to Japan’s experience of incorporating disaster preparedness into school education as an example of how such practices could become part of everyday learning.
Vice Chairman, State Disaster Management Authority, Professor VK Sharma also highlighted the importance of health resilience. He said SSDMA, in collaboration with other agencies, had undertaken a comprehensive study of hospitals in the State, followed by training for healthcare personnel. He noted that resilience planning needed to address both structural and non-structural aspects of critical infrastructure. Training conducted for doctors, Chief Medical Officers and nurses in collaboration with the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI) and the World Health Organization (WHO) had highlighted practical risks within hospitals, including equipment, operation tables and fixtures obstructing evacuation routes during emergencies.
He said disaster resilience needed to encompass health services, communication systems, roads and other critical infrastructure, and that lessons from the 2023 GLOF should be translated into practical preparedness measures. He also acknowledged the contribution of GeoHazards International to disaster preparedness in developing countries, particularly in the Himalayan region, and its continued association with Sikkim.
Professor VK Sharma said initiatives such as the Friday Safety Five could help turn preparedness into a regular practice. Drawing from the experience of teachers and Anganwadi workers, he said that sustained and practical efforts were important for building a culture of preparedness.
Regional Director, South Asia, GeoHazards International, Dr Hari Kumar, addressed the gathering on “School Safety in the Context of Earthquake Risk.” He emphasised that the right to education should also mean the right to safe education and highlighted the importance of preparedness, planning and regular drills in reducing risks in schools.
He said that even when school buildings remained standing during an earthquake, casualties could occur if students and staff were not prepared or did not know how to evacuate safely. Referring to the experience of Kamaishi, Japan, during the 2011 earthquake and tsunami, he highlighted the importance of planning and timely decision-making in protecting children.
Dr Hari Kumar stressed the importance of basic disaster awareness before, during and after an emergency. He highlighted practical measures such as learning to use fire extinguishers, practising Drop, Cover and Hold, and developing what he described as “hazard eyes” to identify risks such as unsecured cupboards, heavy objects, glass, false ceilings and obstructions along evacuation routes. He also stressed the need to keep corridors clear and make appropriate arrangements for children with disabilities.
He underlined the importance of a School Disaster Management Plan that clearly defines roles and responsibilities, evacuation procedures, assembly areas, first-aid arrangements and systems for accounting for all students and staff.
Drawing on experiences from India and Bhutan, Dr Hari Kumar suggested conducting an annual school preparedness drill and proposed that September 18 could be considered as an annual school preparedness drill day from next year. He also suggested developing preparedness action plans for the Education Department, ICDS and other concerned departments, with SSDMA facilitating the process.
He said preparedness needed to move from awareness to regular practice and that the Friday Safety Five could help make disaster preparedness a routine school activity.
In his welcome address, Relief Commissioner-cum-Secretary, Land Revenue and Disaster Management Department, Mr Rinzing Chewang Bhutia, provided an overview of the programme and paid tribute to those who lost their lives in the 2011 earthquake. He said the occasion provided an opportunity to reflect on the State’s disaster experience and strengthen preparedness and resilience.
He said Sikkim remained vulnerable to hazards including landslides, GLOFs, fires and lightning. Referring to the 2023 GLOF, he said the event demonstrated the serious risks associated with the State’s mountainous terrain and river systems and resulted in loss of life and extensive economic damage.
Mr Rinzing Chewang Bhutia said the year’s theme placed children at the centre of preparedness and encouraged them to learn how to respond safely during emergencies. He highlighted basic practices such as Drop, Cover and Hold, safe evacuation and participation in drills, while encouraging children to share disaster awareness with their families and communities.
He said the Friday Safety Five had been introduced by SSDMA in collaboration with the concerned departments to encourage regular disaster preparedness activities in schools, ICDS centres and Anganwadi centres. The five-minute sessions may include drills, discussions, lectures and demonstrations. He also outlined SSDMA’s work in disaster management planning, training and capacity building, community evacuation and response mapping, early warning systems, scientific risk assessment and mitigation of glacier and landslide-related risks.
Ms Rashmi Rai, Nodal Teacher for Disaster Management, PM SHRI Government Senior Secondary School, Bojoghari, spoke on the implementation of the Friday Safety Five in schools. She said the five-minute sessions could build awareness, confidence and a practical understanding of emergency response. She highlighted activities such as fire safety, Stop, Drop and Roll, and the PASS method for using fire extinguishers. She said consistent practice could help students respond more calmly and effectively during emergencies and added that her school had already begun implementing the initiative.
Ms Pranita Subba, Anganwadi Worker Representative, shared her experience of implementing the Friday Safety Five at an ICDS Centre. She said simple and practical safety concepts could be introduced to young children through age-appropriate activities, discussions and demonstrations. She added that regular five-minute sessions could help Anganwadi workers build safety awareness among children and communicate important messages to parents and the wider community.
The Friday Safety Five was formally launched statewide through a video presentation and release of the official notification by SSDMA in collaboration with the Education Department and the Women, Child, Senior Citizen & Divyangjan Welfare Department.
A short video on GLOF preparedness and mitigation was also screened during the programme.
The programme also witnessed the launch of the study titled “From Multi-Hazard Risk to Resilience: A Longitudinal Social Science Study on DRR Policy and Planning in Sikkim.” The study is being undertaken in partnership with Amrita University, IIT Roorkee, Sikkim University and SSDMA, with a focus on multi-hazard risks, vulnerability, resilience and disaster risk reduction policy and planning.
Emergency Response Kits were handed over to Yuva Apda Mitras associated with My Bharat, Bharat Scouts and Guides, NCC and NSS to strengthen youth and volunteer preparedness and response capacity.
Training materials were also handed over to government and private senior secondary schools and ICDS centres, while fire extinguishers were distributed to ICDS centres.
Also present were Heads of Departments, Secretaries, District Collectors, Nodal Officers from various State Government departments, officers of SSDMA, officers from District Disaster Management Authorities, Councillors of Gangtok Municipal Corporation, representatives of State Police, Fire & Emergency Services, NDRF, SDRF, NCC, NSS, My Bharat, Bharat Scouts and Guides, teachers, Anganwadi workers, representatives of NGOs and Civil Defence, and students.
The programme concluded with the vote of thanks proposed by Special Secretary-cum-Director, SSDMA/LRDMD, Mr Prabhakar Rai.
The programme focused on strengthening disaster preparedness among children and making safety education a regular part of school and community life.
MLA-cum-Advisor, Land Revenue and Disaster Management Department, Information and Public Relations Department and Information Technology Department, Mr L B Das, attended the programme as the Chief Guest. Chairman, Land Revenue and Disaster Management Department, Mr T T Bhutia, Vice Chairman, State Disaster Management Authority, Professor V K Sharma, Relief Commissioner-cum-Secretary, Land Revenue and Disaster Management Department, Mr Rinzing Chewang Bhutia, and Regional Director, South Asia, GeoHazards International, Dr Hari Kumar, were also present at the programme.
At the outset, Chief Guest Mr L B Das visited the display stalls showcasing search and rescue equipment by the State Disaster Response Force and Fire & Emergency Services before proceeding to the main programme.
Addressing the gathering, Mr L B Das said that State Disaster Risk Reduction Day served as an important occasion to reflect on the State’s experience with disasters and strengthen preparedness for future risks. He recalled the earthquake of 18 September 2011 as a lasting reminder of Sikkim’s vulnerability and said that the 2023 Glacial Lake Outburst Flood (GLOF) further highlighted the changing and complex nature of risks in the Himalayan region. He said that while disasters had brought loss and hardship, they had also highlighted the remarkable courage, solidarity and resilience of communities, whose collective strength and spirit of support helped them face adversity and recover together.
Elaborating on this year’s theme, he said that children were among those vulnerable to disasters, but could also become important agents of safety and preparedness. He emphasised that knowledge gained at school could reach households and communities, and that children should be familiar with appropriate responses to hazards such as earthquakes, fires, landslides and floods.
Mr L B Das highlighted the ‘Friday Safety Five’, based on the concept “Five Minutes Every Friday, Safety for Life,” introduced across Sikkim to make disaster preparedness a regular part of learning. Under the initiative, schools, ICDS centres and Anganwadi centres will devote five minutes every Friday to safety-related activities. These may include mock drills, hazard identification, evacuation procedures and basic emergency response. He stressed that teachers and Anganwadi workers should make the sessions practical and engaging so that children develop confidence and familiarity with safety practices.
He further said that disaster risk reduction could not be limited to schools and called for coordination among government departments, scientific and technical institutions and communities. He highlighted the importance of early warning systems, resilient critical infrastructure, emergency communication, scientific risk assessment and response capacity. He also stressed that development and disaster risk reduction should go hand in hand, with roads, bridges, schools, hospitals and settlements planned with future risks in mind.
Emphasising community participation, Mr L B Das said that Panchayats, urban local bodies, youth, women’s groups, volunteers, educational institutions and community organisations all had an important role in disaster preparedness. He encouraged communities to understand local hazards, recognise warning messages, identify safe places and support those who may require assistance. He said children could also help carry safety messages from schools to their families and communities.
He acknowledged the contribution of disaster management personnel, district administrations, police, armed forces, emergency responders, health workers, engineers, volunteers, teachers and citizens in strengthening the State’s disaster preparedness. He called for the lessons of past disasters to be remembered and passed on to the next generation, while encouraging children to learn, participate in drills, practise safety measures and help others.
Professor V K Sharma highlighted Sikkim’s experience in glacial lake monitoring and its contribution to national initiatives on GLOF preparedness. He said scientific assessments and studies of glacial lakes had helped identify those requiring closer attention and informed preparedness efforts.
Speaking about the role of children, he said that knowledge acquired by students could be shared with parents, friends and relatives, thereby extending disaster awareness beyond the classroom. He referred to Japan’s experience of incorporating disaster preparedness into school education as an example of how such practices could become part of everyday learning.
Vice Chairman, State Disaster Management Authority, Professor VK Sharma also highlighted the importance of health resilience. He said SSDMA, in collaboration with other agencies, had undertaken a comprehensive study of hospitals in the State, followed by training for healthcare personnel. He noted that resilience planning needed to address both structural and non-structural aspects of critical infrastructure. Training conducted for doctors, Chief Medical Officers and nurses in collaboration with the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI) and the World Health Organization (WHO) had highlighted practical risks within hospitals, including equipment, operation tables and fixtures obstructing evacuation routes during emergencies.
He said disaster resilience needed to encompass health services, communication systems, roads and other critical infrastructure, and that lessons from the 2023 GLOF should be translated into practical preparedness measures. He also acknowledged the contribution of GeoHazards International to disaster preparedness in developing countries, particularly in the Himalayan region, and its continued association with Sikkim.
Professor VK Sharma said initiatives such as the Friday Safety Five could help turn preparedness into a regular practice. Drawing from the experience of teachers and Anganwadi workers, he said that sustained and practical efforts were important for building a culture of preparedness.
Regional Director, South Asia, GeoHazards International, Dr Hari Kumar, addressed the gathering on “School Safety in the Context of Earthquake Risk.” He emphasised that the right to education should also mean the right to safe education and highlighted the importance of preparedness, planning and regular drills in reducing risks in schools.
He said that even when school buildings remained standing during an earthquake, casualties could occur if students and staff were not prepared or did not know how to evacuate safely. Referring to the experience of Kamaishi, Japan, during the 2011 earthquake and tsunami, he highlighted the importance of planning and timely decision-making in protecting children.
Dr Hari Kumar stressed the importance of basic disaster awareness before, during and after an emergency. He highlighted practical measures such as learning to use fire extinguishers, practising Drop, Cover and Hold, and developing what he described as “hazard eyes” to identify risks such as unsecured cupboards, heavy objects, glass, false ceilings and obstructions along evacuation routes. He also stressed the need to keep corridors clear and make appropriate arrangements for children with disabilities.
He underlined the importance of a School Disaster Management Plan that clearly defines roles and responsibilities, evacuation procedures, assembly areas, first-aid arrangements and systems for accounting for all students and staff.
Drawing on experiences from India and Bhutan, Dr Hari Kumar suggested conducting an annual school preparedness drill and proposed that September 18 could be considered as an annual school preparedness drill day from next year. He also suggested developing preparedness action plans for the Education Department, ICDS and other concerned departments, with SSDMA facilitating the process.
He said preparedness needed to move from awareness to regular practice and that the Friday Safety Five could help make disaster preparedness a routine school activity.
In his welcome address, Relief Commissioner-cum-Secretary, Land Revenue and Disaster Management Department, Mr Rinzing Chewang Bhutia, provided an overview of the programme and paid tribute to those who lost their lives in the 2011 earthquake. He said the occasion provided an opportunity to reflect on the State’s disaster experience and strengthen preparedness and resilience.
He said Sikkim remained vulnerable to hazards including landslides, GLOFs, fires and lightning. Referring to the 2023 GLOF, he said the event demonstrated the serious risks associated with the State’s mountainous terrain and river systems and resulted in loss of life and extensive economic damage.
Mr Rinzing Chewang Bhutia said the year’s theme placed children at the centre of preparedness and encouraged them to learn how to respond safely during emergencies. He highlighted basic practices such as Drop, Cover and Hold, safe evacuation and participation in drills, while encouraging children to share disaster awareness with their families and communities.
He said the Friday Safety Five had been introduced by SSDMA in collaboration with the concerned departments to encourage regular disaster preparedness activities in schools, ICDS centres and Anganwadi centres. The five-minute sessions may include drills, discussions, lectures and demonstrations. He also outlined SSDMA’s work in disaster management planning, training and capacity building, community evacuation and response mapping, early warning systems, scientific risk assessment and mitigation of glacier and landslide-related risks.
Ms Rashmi Rai, Nodal Teacher for Disaster Management, PM SHRI Government Senior Secondary School, Bojoghari, spoke on the implementation of the Friday Safety Five in schools. She said the five-minute sessions could build awareness, confidence and a practical understanding of emergency response. She highlighted activities such as fire safety, Stop, Drop and Roll, and the PASS method for using fire extinguishers. She said consistent practice could help students respond more calmly and effectively during emergencies and added that her school had already begun implementing the initiative.
Ms Pranita Subba, Anganwadi Worker Representative, shared her experience of implementing the Friday Safety Five at an ICDS Centre. She said simple and practical safety concepts could be introduced to young children through age-appropriate activities, discussions and demonstrations. She added that regular five-minute sessions could help Anganwadi workers build safety awareness among children and communicate important messages to parents and the wider community.
The Friday Safety Five was formally launched statewide through a video presentation and release of the official notification by SSDMA in collaboration with the Education Department and the Women, Child, Senior Citizen & Divyangjan Welfare Department.
A short video on GLOF preparedness and mitigation was also screened during the programme.
The programme also witnessed the launch of the study titled “From Multi-Hazard Risk to Resilience: A Longitudinal Social Science Study on DRR Policy and Planning in Sikkim.” The study is being undertaken in partnership with Amrita University, IIT Roorkee, Sikkim University and SSDMA, with a focus on multi-hazard risks, vulnerability, resilience and disaster risk reduction policy and planning.
Emergency Response Kits were handed over to Yuva Apda Mitras associated with My Bharat, Bharat Scouts and Guides, NCC and NSS to strengthen youth and volunteer preparedness and response capacity.
Training materials were also handed over to government and private senior secondary schools and ICDS centres, while fire extinguishers were distributed to ICDS centres.
Also present were Heads of Departments, Secretaries, District Collectors, Nodal Officers from various State Government departments, officers of SSDMA, officers from District Disaster Management Authorities, Councillors of Gangtok Municipal Corporation, representatives of State Police, Fire & Emergency Services, NDRF, SDRF, NCC, NSS, My Bharat, Bharat Scouts and Guides, teachers, Anganwadi workers, representatives of NGOs and Civil Defence, and students.
The programme concluded with the vote of thanks proposed by Special Secretary-cum-Director, SSDMA/LRDMD, Mr Prabhakar Rai.
