Disaster management control room opened

KOCHI: Inspector General of Police, Ernakulam Range, B. Sandhya has emphasised on the need to intensify awareness programmes on disaster management among school students.

Delivering the inaugural address at the opening of the disaster management control room as part of the disaster management cell set up by the Corporation, Ms. Sandhya said that it was the lack of knowledge in dealing with the situation that often heightened the scale of disasters. She offered all assistance on the part of the police in the operation of the cell.

Mayor Mercy Williams presided. Kochi Corporation had been included in the Urban Risk Reduction programme implemented jointly by the United Nations Development Programme and the State government. The disaster management cell had been set up under this programme.

The primary objective of the cell was to equip the public to effectively deal with a disaster. It would lend guidance to the public on ways to face a disaster, the precautions to be taken in such an event etc. Public could avail of the information through a toll free number (1800-425-9117).