Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, Dec 24: Gulmarg Development Authority (GDA) organized a one-day high altitude avalanche preparedness training programme at Gulmarg today. The participants were sensitized about various aspects of avalanches, their forecasting and precautions required to be taken.
The programme was inaugurated by Chief Executive Officer, GDA, Mehmood Ahmad Shah while as the training was conducted by S C Bhan, Senior Scientist and Deputy Director General, IMD, Government of India. Experts from Divisional Disaster Management Authority and SASE also participated.
During the programme the rescuers were also taught the procedure for conducting probing, in case anyone is caught in an avalanche. The training was imparted to joint ski-rescue patrol parties of GDA, Tourism, Police, YSS and Cable Car Project.
Bhan IMD informed the participants that avalanche forecasting in hilly areas of Kashmir has improved to a great extent and the warnings are issued by SASE to Divisional Disaster Management Authority, who in turn disseminates the information for the general public, through media. He urged that precautions should necessarily be followed, as and when avalanche warnings are issued, so as to ensure the there is no loss of life.
In his speech CEO GDA, hoped that the rescue teams would work in a coordinated manner to ensure that rescue operations are carried out in the minimum possible time. He clarified that only the high peaks of Gulmarg are prone to avalanches and not the Gulmarg bowl.
The CEO GDA said that since there is heavy influx of expert foreign tourists, who prefer to high altitude skiing and even prefer heli-skiing and such high reaches can be prone to avalanches, as such it is necessary to have proper trained rescuers, who can respond in such mishaps.
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