Mangaluru: “Though developmental works are very necessary, we should not go against nature. As unplanned developmental works are also one of the reasons for major disasters, one should not exploit the natural resources”, said Mayor Bhaskar K on Saturday, October 13.
He was addressing a gathering after inaugurating an awareness programme on mitigating the disasters, organised jointly by the Indian Red Cross Society (IRCS) and Dakshina Kannada district unit of Bharat Scouts and Guides at Scouts Bhavan in Lalbagh. Citing the recent floods due to heavy rainfall in Kodagu and Kerala, Bhaskar said, “Many victims of the flood have been residing in shelter camps in Kodagu and Kerala. If we are aware of mitigating the disasters, the amount of loss would be minimised”, he said.
Presiding over the programme, Scouts and Guides District Commissioner Dr. N G Mohan recalled the two major incidents of disaster that had occurred in Dakshina Kannada district. “The horrific Air India Express Crash at Mangaluru International Airport in the year 2010 and students drowned at Gurupur river in Ulaibettu after the school bus slipped into the river in the year 2009 are the two major incidents that occurred in the district. In order to prevent such incidents in the future, proper measures need to be taken. Hence, awareness should be created among the public, which will in help contain the loss”, he said. Meanwhile, Dr. Gayathri Bhat, Professor of Anaesthesiology, K S Hegde Medical Academy and Critical Care delivered a talk on how to combat and mitigate any disaster.
Disaster management Sub-committee Coordinator Venu Sharma and IRCS District Unit Secretary S A Prabhakar Sharma among others were present.
