With US scientists warning of the possibility of an earthquake in Assam, the state government has chalked out a comprehensive disaster management plan in this connection.
According to Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi, it would include the launch of a massive awareness campaign all over the state to educate the people about disaster management.
While emphasising that no one could accurately predict an earthquake, he said the state must be prepared to deal with any situation mobilising available resources.
He held a meeting of top officials of concerned departments on Sunday to chalk out strategies to deal with the situation in case of an earthquake.
Gogoi announced that a week-long awareness campaign would be launched on January 8. Mock drills would be conducted across the state to prepare the people in the event of a quake while small groups of people would be trained in each district to spread awareness among the masses.
The chief minister plans to monitor the entire exercise.
As part of the awareness campaign, the government would distribute publicity material among the people and organize slide shows in cinema halls. Both print and electronic media would be utilised.
The government has decided to open management cells in 12 flood-prone districts. The chief minister has directed hospitals to keep adequate stock of required medicines. The health department has been asked to make arrangements to set up field hospitals in case of damage to hospital buildings during an earthquake.
The issue of construction of houses in narrow lanes also came up for discussion and it was decided to conduct a survey of areas where the fire tenders could not enter.
The chief minister directed concerned departments to keep adequate number of tents and boats and appealed to the people to keep adequate stock of drinking water and first-aid materials.
The state government would maintain contact with the Railways, Oil India Corporation and Oil and Natural Gas Corporation in case of any emergency.