• Dr. G.M. Dar

The recent Earthquake which hit both parts of Kashmir on Oct. 8th 2005, has unveiled many aspects of the picture. While on the one hand it has revealed that there are limitations viza-viz resources related to search and rescue, on the other it has also told upon our poor state of preparedness viz-a-viz Disaster Management. However, the presence of the Army and other paramilitary forces along the LoC and the affected areas of Uri and Tangdhar proved to be a blessing for the area as it was the security forces which could manage to reach the victims within 20 minutes of the event. Several gaps were found especially with regard to poor communication network, lack of adequate health and sanitation facilities and above all absence of any Disaster Management Plan.The strengths that were witnessed in the aftermath of the killer quake was the quick response of all the stake holders especially the Govt. Agencies and the Non-Governmental Organizations and other social service organizations. The relief material which poured in from every nook and corner of the country was an exemplary strength of the secular India. The adoption of most of the villages by the various agencies especially the NGOs revealed that, ‘although economic resources have a boundary, human hearts don’t have any’.The discussion paper aims at highlighting the roles played by various agencies especially the NGOs and the strengths and weaknesses experienced during the different stages of post-earthquake phase. The strengths can be taken forward and the weaknesses can be looked into, to turn them into strengths in future events. It may not be out of place to mention here that in certain areas where some NGOs have adopted the villages for Reconstruction, the people feel that they are part of their families. This is the greatest reward for any NGO.

Damage Response Rehabilitation Shelter Reconstruction

"The Kashmir Earthquake 2005-Lessons Learnt. ", International Journal of Emerging Technologies and Innovative Research (www.jetir.org), ISSN:2349-5162, Vol.3, Issue 7, page no.1341-1350, July-2016, Available :http://www.jetir.org/papers/JETIR1701605.pdf

"The Kashmir Earthquake 2005-Lessons Learnt. ", International Journal of Emerging Technologies and Innovative Research (www.jetir.org | UGC and issn Approved), ISSN:2349-5162, Vol.3, Issue 7, page no. pp1341-1350, July-2016, Available at : http://www.jetir.org/papers/JETIR1701605.pdf