Gandhinagar: Gujarat has geared up for the upcoming monsoon season with a “zero casualty” objective, Chief Secretary M. K. Das said on Wednesday while chairing a high-level pre-monsoon preparedness review meeting involving state and central government agencies.

Reviewing disaster management plans and preparedness measures, Das said the state administration is fully equipped to handle heavy rainfall, flooding, and other monsoon-related emergencies. He directed all departments to activate control rooms at the state, district, and taluka levels immediately and ensure adequate stocks of essential commodities, medicines, and emergency supplies.

Emphasising Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel’s directive to prevent loss of life during the monsoon, Das instructed departments to expedite pending road and drainage works in urban and rural areas. The Roads and Buildings Department was also asked to complete repairs of roads and bridges that witness heavy vehicular movement.

Additional Chief Secretary (Revenue) Jayanti Ravi informed the meeting that 14 teams of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and 22 teams of the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) have been kept ready for deployment across Gujarat. The teams will be equipped with boats, life jackets, advanced communication systems, and other rescue equipment.

Das also directed the Forest Department to undertake tree-trimming operations in coordination with local authorities to prevent accidents and traffic disruptions caused by falling trees during storms and heavy rains. He further asked officials to closely monitor water levels and inflows in major reservoirs, including the Sardar Sarovar and Ukai dams.

Presentations on monsoon disaster management plans were made by the State Emergency Operation Center (SEOC) and key departments, including the Meteorological Department, Urban Development Department, Health Department, Roads and Buildings Department, and Supply Department.

Senior officials from state and central government departments attended the meeting, along with representatives of the Armed Forces, Border Security Force (BSF), Coast Guard, Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), Central Water Commission (CWC), Rapid Action Force (RAF), Railways, BSNL, Doordarshan, ISRO, and All India Radio. DeshGujarat