Amid heavy rains and flood alert, Punjab sets up disaster response cell

A five-member state disaster response cell was set up by the Punjab government to monitor the situation in the wake of rains that lashed the region during the past three days.

Additional Chief Secretary M P Singh said the disaster cell will be headed by Special Secretary Revenue Manashvi Kumar with monitoring and evaluation officer (MEO) Pardeep Singh Bains holding charge of the cell.

"The Revenue, Rehabilitation, and Disaster Management Department set up a five-member state disaster response cell at the state headquarter here to monitor the situation," an official spokesperson said here.

Three others, including undersecretary revenue Baljit Singh Kang and Manjeet Kaur, will also be members of the cell.

Asserting that adequate arrangements have been made to tackle any flood-like situation, the FCR said although the weather conditions had improved, the state government was monitoring the situation on a regular basis.

He said there was no need to panic at this moment.

MEO Pardeep Bains and Baljit Singh Kang would be the nodal officers coordinating with the local district disaster management authorities and also with the irrigation, drainage, power, health, agriculture, and soil conservation departments at the state-level.