Bhopal (Madhya Pradesh): Bhopal Collector Kaushlendra Vikram Singh has directed officials to prepare an updated civil defence plan for the capital city, replacing the outdated version from 1971.
The directive was issued in light of rising Indo-Pak tension during a debriefing meeting following a recent mock drill involving key departments.
The meeting included representatives from the Additional District Magistrate’s (ADM) office, Bhopal Municipal Corporation (BMC), State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) and the police. Officials emphasised the need to train at least 10% of the city’s population in basic disaster management, making every tenth citizen a civil defence volunteer.
To enhance fire safety, the Collector instructed BMC to adopt surveillance drones similar to those used by the police. These drones will help in rapid assessment and strategic planning during fire incidents. Additionally, the city’s fire safety equipment will be upgraded at an estimated cost of Rs 8-10 crore.
The Collector also ordered the identification of shelter homes across the city including hospitals, schools and community halls which will be divided into seven zones. Sub-Divisional Magistrates (SDMs) of each zone will act as reporting officers, mirroring the role of incident commandants.
Highlighting Bhopal’s rapid growth, officials noted the city's expansion from a 5 km radius in 1971 to around 25 km which is over five times that size today. To ensure comprehensive coverage, the Smart City authorities have been directed to install sirens in newly-developed areas for city-wide emergency alerts.
‘Work has begun on updated civil defence strategy’
ADM Ankur Meshram told Free Press that work has begun on updated civil defence strategy, including mapping routes, food supply logistics and monitoring of reserved resources. He also pointed out the urgent need to fill vacant SDRF positions with the current strength of 450–500 personnel falling short of requirements.
