Rotary Club Jamshedpur hosts seminar on Disaster Resilience and Lightning Safety

Jamshedpur: The Rotary Club of Jamshedpur Midtown, in collaboration with Civil Defence, Jamshedpur, the District Disaster Management Authority of East Singhbhum, and the Internal Quality Assurance Cell (IQAC) of LBSM College, successfully organized a seminar on “Disaster Resilience and Sustainability” at the LBSM College auditorium. The event was held under the aegis of the “Lightning Resilient India Campaign,” a joint initiative by the Climate Resilient Observing Systems Promotion Council (CROPC), India Meteorological Department (IMD), and the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), Government of India.

The seminar commenced with the ceremonial lighting of the lamp by Chief Guest Deputy Development Commissioner (DDC) Aniket Sachan, Guest of Honour Colonel Professor Sanjay Srivastava—Chairman of CROPC and Convener of the National Lightning Resilient India Campaign—alongside Rotary Club President  Preeti Saini, Secretary  Rajeshwar Jaiswal, Chief Warden Arun Kumar and Deputy Chief Daya Shankar Mishra of Civil Defence, and LBSM College Principal Dr. Ashok Kumar Jha.

Welcoming the gathering, Principal Dr. Jha praised the Rotary Club’s initiative and suggested the creation of a knowledge centre for disaster and lightning awareness within the college to foster ongoing learning and research.  Preeti Saini highlighted the objective of uniting students, NGOs, the government, and Rotary under one roof to strengthen disaster response mechanisms. She also proposed forming a dedicated committee to monitor and implement disaster preparedness projects at the grassroots level.

DDC Aniket Sachan addressed the attendees on the gravity of lightning-related disasters, emphasizing the widespread loss of life and property damage, especially in rural areas. He noted the urgent need for installing lightning arresters in public buildings and urged greater awareness and preparedness.

Colonel Prof. Sanjay Srivastava elaborated on government efforts to enhance lightning safety, including the Damini Lightning App and the SACHET App. He also explained the importance of Emergency Number 112 as a unified helpline for police, fire, and ambulance services across India.

The seminar concluded with Dy. Chief of Civil Defence Daya Shankar Mishra sharing life-saving tips on lightning safety and demonstrating emergency response techniques. The Civil Defence team also conducted a live rescue operation drill, which captivated the audience and underlined the importance of real-time preparedness.

The event saw enthusiastic participation from over 1,200 students, NGO representatives, NCC cadets, Rotarians, and LBSM College faculty, making it a significant step forward in community-based disaster awareness and resilience-building.