Patna (ABN) As the new year begins, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar launched the calendar and table calendar of the Bihar State Disaster Management Authority at the authority's auditorium today. A state-level meeting was held at the auditorium, which was presided over by the authority's honorary Vice-Chairman, Dr. Uday Kant. The meeting was attended by several stakeholders, including SDRF, NDRF, Fire Service, Meteorological Service Center, Disaster Management Department, Health Department, Urban Housing and Development Department, Urban Development Department, and BMS.

The primary objective of the meeting was to strengthen public awareness campaigns for earthquake safety in the state, streamline mock drills and capacity-building activities, and expand the scope of pre-earthquake preparedness. Key decisions made during the meeting include observing Earthquake Safety Fortnight (January 15-28) every year to maintain continuity in preparedness and awareness. Mock drills, public awareness programs, and capacity-building activities will be held on the 4th of every month across the state to develop rapid response capabilities to tackle potential earthquake hazards.

Earthquake-focused awareness programs will be conducted in all schools, colleges, and engineering institutions in the state, where students will be taught earthquake safety measures through mock drills during school assembly meetings. Specific information about the risk of districts in Bihar in the revised Seismic Zone VI will be disseminated so that children, parents, and communities can better understand the hazards and safety measures.

The meeting decided to spread earthquake-resistant building construction techniques across the state through trained architects, increase public awareness, and disseminate information about earthquake safety measures to the public. The authorities approved providing resources to SDRF for conducting mock drills and making training activities more effective in districts. The list of old and important buildings should be prepared by the Urban Development Department for rapid visual screening to ensure structural improvement as needed.

Special awareness campaigns should be launched in crowded areas of Patna city, where high-rise buildings and narrow lanes can increase the risk during earthquakes. The Bihar Meteorological Service Center will regularly broadcast alerts and awareness messages to provide the public with timely information about precautionary measures and safety measures during earthquakes. A plan is underway to widely promote the BSDRN app, ensuring that relevant authorities and stakeholders in districts have immediate access to technology and disaster management databases.

Dramas, puppet shows, and information exhibitions will be held in fairs and large programs to create community-based awareness about earthquake safety. Citizens, volunteer groups, and local institutions will be provided with extensive training to implement earthquake safety measures and provide immediate assistance during emergencies. The meeting emphasized that technical preparedness alone is not enough; public awareness, practical drills, and community participation are key to reducing earthquake risk.

Various public awareness activities will be implemented in a phased manner during the 15-day period for this purpose. At the end of the meeting, it was expressed that the Earthquake Safety Fortnight 2026 will provide new dimensions to earthquake risk management in the state and play a crucial role in making the public safe, aware, and self-reliant. It was also decided that the next review meeting would be held on January 8 at the authority's auditorium.