ITANAGAR, 25 May: Following continuous rainfall and the growing threat of landslides behind Siddhartha Hall here, the ICR district administration and the District Disaster Management Authority (DDMA) have initiated emergency safety and mitigation measures to safeguard residents and prevent any untoward incidents.

A joint inspection team, comprising ICR Deputy Commissioner Toko Babu, Art and Culture Director Ibom Tao, Itanagar SP Jummar Basar, RFO TechiKhili, and DDMO Moromi Dodum, along with officials from Capital Division-A, on Monday carried out an on-site inspection of the landslide-prone area behind Siddhartha Hall to assess the ground situation and review immediate preventive measures.

In view of the imminent threat posed by the landslide-prone area, notices under Section 152 of the BNSS, 2023, read with Section 30 of the Disaster Management Act, 2005 were served on 24 May to the residents living below and near Siddhartha Hall, directing them to vacate vulnerable locations within 24 hours and shift to safer places.

As part of the ongoing mitigation efforts to ensure public safety, measures such as trimming and removal of vulnerable trees around Siddhartha Hallare being carried out to reduce risks arising from unstable soil and continuous rainfall. Protective tarpaulin and geo-sheets have been placed over exposed and erosion-affected slopes to reduce rainwater infiltration, prevent soil erosion, and minimise further slope weakening during continuous rainfall.

Relief camps have been identified and kept ready at the GUPS ESS Sector, Itanagar, the Borum community hall in Naharlagun, the G Sector community hall in Naharlagun, and Nikum Niya Hall in Banderdewa.

The DDMA stated that continuous monitoring of the affected area is underway, and appealed to residents to cooperate with the authorities and prioritise safety by relocating to safer locations.

It warned that non-compliance with evacuation directives may attract legal action under Section 51(b) of the Disaster Management Act, 2005.(DIPRO)