Army's Central Command holds civil-military event on flood preparedness
Lucknow, June 7
Flood preparedness, early warning systems and satellite-based surveillance were in spotlight as the Indian Army's Central Command organised a National Civil-Military Symposium on Flood and Flood Related Disaster Management, an official said on Sunday.
The symposium, organised at Surya Auditorium in Lucknow in coordination with Uttar Pradesh State Disaster Management Authority (SDMA), came ahead of Monsoon 2026 to reinforce whole-of-government and whole-of-society approach, the Central Command said in a statement.
The deliberations focused on flood preparedness, early warning systems, satellite-based surveillance, CAP and SACHET warning dissemination, climate change related challenges, community resilience and integrated emergency response mechanisms, the statement said on social media platform X.
The symposium reinforced a Whole-of-Government and Whole-of-Society approach towards disaster risk reduction and strengthened civil-military coordination for a resilient and disaster-ready India, it added.
"The symposium brought together National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), SDMAs, India Meteorological Department (IMD), Central Water Commission (CWC), National Remote Sensing Centre (NRSC), Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IITM), National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), Indian Air Force, Police, Fire Services, Railways and senior civil-military leadership from Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Uttarakhand and Madhya Pradesh," the Central Command said in a statement.
Uttar Pradesh Jal Shakti Minister Swatantra Dev Singh addressed the gathering and highlighted the need for preparedness, coordination, community resilience and leadership in disaster management.
"The event was attended by Lieutenant General A. Sengupta, Central Command General Officer Commanding-in-Chief; Lieutenant General Yogendra Dimri (Retd), Uttar Pradesh SDMA Vice Chairperson; and Uday Kant Misra, BSDMA Vice Chairperson," the statement said.
"Earlier, the Central Command's Sikh Light Infantry Regimental Training Centre at Fatehgarh, commemorated the World Environment Day 2026 with a series of impactful environmental initiatives, including a mass plantation drive, cleanliness campaign and an energised bicycle rally, witnessing enthusiastic participation by all ranks and families in support of a greener and more sustainable future," the statement added.
"Reinforcing environmental awareness at the grassroots level, young children participated in an art competition themed on climate change, while informative sessions on reduction of single-use plastic and effective waste management were also conducted," a statement said on X.
"The collective spirit and active involvement reflected a shared commitment towards environmental responsibility and sustainable living," it added.
"Aligned with the global theme 'Inspired by Nature. For Climate. For Our Future', the Regimental Centre reaffirmed its steadfast dedication towards environmental conservation, community awareness and nation-building," the Central Command of Indian Army said.
— IANS
Reader Comments
Good to see Army and civil authorities working together, but I wish we had this kind of urgency during non-election years. We've lost so many lives to floods in Bihar and Assam due to lack of early warning systems. The satellite-based surveillance mentioned here should be made available to every district, not just symposium attendees. 🤞
Yeh sab achcha hai, lekin community resilience ka concept tabhi kaam karega jab panchayat-level par training hogi. Urban areas mein flood warning toh aa jaata hai, lekin gaon ke logon tak properly reach nahi hota. SACHET warning dissemination ka zikr hai, toh ummid hai ki yeh baarish se pehle ground par bhi laagu ho. 🇮🇳
I appreciate the holistic approach: from IIT Madras technical expertise to Army's operational capability. But climate change challenges are real—we're seeing erratic monsoon patterns every year. The whole-of-government approach is necessary, but does it include local NGOs and community leaders who actually stay on ground during floods? Just a thought.
Nice to see the Army's Environment Day activities too—plantation drives and bicycle rallies. But I hope the flood symposium isn't just another photo-op. Real test will be when monsoon hits and we see how many villages get timely evacuation. Central Command deserves credit for bringing all stakeholders together though. Let's see action now. 🌊
As someone who experienced the 2013 Uttarakhand floods, I can say civil-military coordination is crucial. The mention of satellite-based surveillance and CAP/SACHET systems gives me
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