Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, Oct 13: The Department of Geography and Disaster Management, University of Kashmir (KU), in collaboration with the Department of Disaster Management, Relief, Rehabilitation and Reconstruction (DMRRR), Government of Jammu & Kashmir, organised a special event to commemorate the International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction (IDDRR) 2025 at the main campus.
The 2025 commemoration, themed “Fund Resilience, Not Disasters,” focused on the importance of investing in disaster prevention and preparedness rather than relying on reactive response measures.
In her presidential address, Vice-Chancellor KU, Prof Nilofer Khan, said, “Disasters expose the deep inequalities in our societies. The poorest and most vulnerable are often the worst affected and the least equipped to recover. building resilience requires that we address these underlying vulnerabilities through inclusive, equitable, and proactive planning.”
Dean Research KU, Prof Mohammad Sultan Bhat, noted that disasters are becoming increasingly costly, with global losses running into billions of dollars each year. Giasul Haq, Additional Secretary to the Government, DMRRR J&K, highlighted the need for coordinated institutional efforts to strengthen disaster preparedness and ensure effective implementation of risk reduction strategies at the local level.
Prof Peter Sammonds, Professor of Geophysics and Climate Risks, University College London (UCL), in his virtual keynote address, said that disasters arise largely from societal vulnerabilities, highlighting the need for strong governance, equitable planning, and community preparedness.
Registrar KU, Prof Naseer Iqbal highlighted the importance of preparedness and ensuring the availability of safety equipment during disasters, while Dr Jagvir Singh, Scientist-G and Advisor, Ministry of Earth Sciences, GoI, in his online address, highlighted the importance of integrating scientific research with community-based approaches to strengthen disaster resilience. Snober Jameel, Under Secretary, DMRRR J&K, emphasized the active role of youth in strengthening disaster resilience.
Earlier Prof. Pervez Ahmed introduced the event’s purpose. The event proceedings were conducted by Dr Akhtar Alam, while the vote of thanks was presented by Prof G M Rather, Head, Department of Geography, KU.
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