Efforts to strengthen disaster preparedness in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands gained momentum as the Administration convened a high-level conference on the Emergency Communication System. The meeting, held at the Directorate of Disaster Management in Sri Vijaya Puram, brought together representatives of multiple departments and agencies to address gaps in communication and create a more resilient emergency framework for the island territory.
The session was chaired by the Chief Secretary, who emphasized the urgency of developing a fail-safe communication network that covers all inhabited islands. He highlighted the directive of the Lieutenant Governor to ensure a reliable early warning system and underscored the importance of drafting a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for communication during disasters. The SOP, once finalized, will apply across Emergency Operation Centres (EOCs) and Control Rooms throughout the Union Territory.
A recurring theme at the meeting was the need for integration and redundancy in communication systems. Officials observed that while various departments maintain their own communication setups, a consolidated framework would allow for better coordination during emergencies. Departments were urged to pool resources with the Directorate of Disaster Management and District Administrations to build a more robust system.
The Commissioner-cum-Secretary of Disaster Management called on all departments to share their communication infrastructure, stressing that collaboration would be key to effective disaster response. The Secretary of Disaster Management echoed this, noting that the territory’s geography and vulnerability to natural hazards required stronger inter-departmental coordination.
Participants included senior officers from Police, Forest, Andaman & Nicobar Command, NDRF, Directorate of Shipping, Port Management Board, Electricity, Fisheries, Health Departments, and all three district administrations. Their presentations during the technical session outlined the communication tools currently in place, ranging from wireless networks and satellite phones to departmental radio systems. The discussion highlighted both the strengths and shortcomings of these arrangements, with consensus on the need for integration to prevent breakdowns in connectivity during crises.
The Director of Disaster Management explained that the primary goal of the conference was to map existing resources and identify communication gaps that could hamper emergency response. She pointed out that seamless information flow can make a critical difference during events such as cyclones, tsunamis, and earthquakes, which frequently threaten the island chain.
A group discussion session allowed officials to share practical suggestions on strengthening the system. Several participants advocated for redundancy measures to ensure that if one network fails, alternative channels remain available. The use of multiple Telecom Service Provider networks in the State Emergency Operation Centre (SEOC) and other EOCs was also proposed as a practical step toward resilience.
A consultant from the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) joined the discussions virtually and recommended harnessing all available telecom infrastructure in the islands to build a fail-safe network. He noted that leveraging public and private telecom networks would increase the chances of uninterrupted connectivity in critical situations.
By the end of the session, there was broad agreement on the need for cooperation between departments and better integration of systems. Officials committed to sharing their communication resources with Disaster Management to improve preparedness levels. The outcome of the meeting is expected to inform a structured roadmap for upgrading the islands’ emergency communication system.
For a region where disasters are not uncommon, reliable communication can mean the difference between life and loss. The conference in Sri Vijaya Puram marks a step forward in ensuring that Andaman and Nicobar Islands are better equipped to respond swiftly and effectively when emergencies strike.
