New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi chaired a high-level meeting today to review the ongoing heat wave situation across the country and assess preparedness for the upcoming monsoon season. The meeting, held at his residence at 7, Lok Kalyan Marg, brought together key officials to discuss strategies and measures to mitigate the impact of extreme weather conditions.
During the meeting, the Prime Minister was briefed on the Indian Meteorological Department’s (IMD) forecasts, which indicate that the heat wave is expected to persist in parts of Rajasthan, Gujarat, and Madhya Pradesh. Additionally, it was reported that this year’s monsoon is predicted to be normal to above normal in most regions, although below normal in parts of Peninsular India.
Prime Minister Modi emphasized the importance of regular drills to prevent and manage fire incidents. He directed that fire and electrical safety audits of hospitals and other public places be conducted routinely. Furthermore, he stressed the necessity of maintaining fire lines in forests and utilizing biomass productively.
A notable development highlighted during the meeting was the effectiveness of the “van agni” portal, which has proven useful in the timely identification and management of forest fires. The portal’s role in mitigating the risk and impact of such fires was acknowledged as a significant advancement in forest fire management.
The meeting was attended by the Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister, the Cabinet Secretary, the Home Secretary, the Secretary of the Ministry of Earth Sciences, the Director General of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), and the Member Secretary of the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), along with other senior officials from the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) and concerned ministries.