State still ill-prepared for major earthquake, warn officials
ASDMA carried out a study of the high-rise buildings of Guwahati city in 2017 & some buildings were found to be weak. However, no follow-up action was taken by the concerned departments.
A file of the aftermath of the mega earthquake which struck Assam on August 15, 1950.
Guwahati, Apr 9: The devastating earthquake in Myanmar, which resulted in the death of more than 3,600 persons, raises the question of whether Assam, which falls under Zone V of the seismic map of India, is prepared to face such an eventuality. The answer is no. Till today, the State is not at all prepared to face any such eventuality, even though the State has a history of facing mega quakes.
Official sources admitted before The Assam Tribune that some baby steps have been taken in earthquake damage mitigation, but so far, not enough has been done. Concerted efforts should be made by all the concerned departments to prepare the state to face any such eventuality.
It is often said that earthquakes do not kill, but poor buildings do. Keeping that in mind, the Assam State Disaster Management Authority (ASDMA) carried out a study of the high-rise buildings of Guwahati city in 2017, and some buildings were found to be weak. However, no follow-up action was taken by the concerned departments.
With the slopes of the hills in Guwahati encroached, they have become vulnerable to landslides. In case of a major quake, the possibility of massive landslides cannot be ruled out.
A few years back, around 366 vulnerable slopes were identified, and a proposal was mooted to work for slope stabilisation. Due to ongoing encroachments, the number of vulnerable slopes has likely increased over the years. But no action has been taken as yet to evict the encroachers and stabilise the hillslopes to prevent landslides.
The ASDMA has been carrying out mock drills in schools and colleges from time to time. But official sources alleged that the inmates of most of the high-rise apartment buildings did not cooperate, and that is why mock drills could not be carried out in those buildings. However, in recent times, the ASDMA has started to take some steps. A map of open spaces in towns and cities to provide shelter to people in case of a major earthquake was prepared a few years back. After the Myanmar quake, the authority has decided to reverify whether the open spaces still exist. Moreover, the ASDMA has decided to do a mapping of the open spaces in all the districts and subdivisions of the state.
Sources said that steps have been initiated to identify the persons who can supply tents and other materials like food items, medicines, etc., on short notice. An inventory of the rescue materials, including cutters available in each district, is also being prepared, and it will take a couple of months to complete the process.
NE's first Rs 22 Cr drug lab inaugurated in Assam, capacity of 5,000 tests a year
"With the lab now operational, there will no longer be a need to send drug samples to Kolkata or other distant locations for analysis," says Singhal
Health Minister Ashok Singhal on Friday inaugurated Northeast’s first-ever state drugs testing laboratory at Jalukbari Ayurvedic College.
Guwahati, May 23: Assam’s Health Minister Ashok Singhal on Friday inaugurated the Northeast’s first-ever state drugs testing laboratory at Jalukbari Ayurvedic College.
Speaking at the event, Singhal mentioned that the lab has the capacity to test around 5,000 drug samples annually.
“With the capacity to test around 5,000 drug samples annually, the facility will not only serve Assam but also extend its testing services to all eight Northeastern states,” said Singhal.
Operated under the Department of Health and Family Welfare by the Commissionerate of Food Safety and Drug Control Administration, the facility is expected to enhance the quality standards of healthcare in Assam and usher in a new era in drug quality testing.
“This lab is a state drug control and drug testing lab. Drugs collected by drug inspectors from different pharmacies across the state will be tested here,” Singhal said during a press briefing.
Built at a cost of Rs 22 crore, the lab building comprises a ground floor and two upper floors. The ground floor houses a reception hall, a sample storage room, and a separate room for security personnel.
“I have been told that equipment worth Rs 22 crore has been installed, which is a significant investment. The equipment is state-of-the-art, and the entire lab is connected to the central drug testing lab in Delhi,” the minister added.
Notably, the first floor is equipped with administrative offices and a conference hall, while the second floor features a state-of-the-art laboratory outfitted with advanced instruments. This lab will play a vital role in ensuring the quality of medicines and taking strict action against counterfeit or substandard drugs.
He added that with the lab now operational, there will no longer be a need to send drug samples to Kolkata or other distant locations for analysis — Assam can now conduct its own tests in a timely manner. He emphasised that this development reaffirms the state government’s commitment to public health and welfare.
NE's first Rs 22 Cr drug lab inaugurated in Assam, capacity of 5,000 tests a year
"With the lab now operational, there will no longer be a need to send drug samples to Kolkata or other distant locations for analysis," says Singhal
Health Minister Ashok Singhal on Friday inaugurated Northeast’s first-ever state drugs testing laboratory at Jalukbari Ayurvedic College.
Guwahati, May 23: Assam’s Health Minister Ashok Singhal on Friday inaugurated the Northeast’s first-ever state drugs testing laboratory at Jalukbari Ayurvedic College.
Speaking at the event, Singhal mentioned that the lab has the capacity to test around 5,000 drug samples annually.
“With the capacity to test around 5,000 drug samples annually, the facility will not only serve Assam but also extend its testing services to all eight Northeastern states,” said Singhal.
Operated under the Department of Health and Family Welfare by the Commissionerate of Food Safety and Drug Control Administration, the facility is expected to enhance the quality standards of healthcare in Assam and usher in a new era in drug quality testing.
“This lab is a state drug control and drug testing lab. Drugs collected by drug inspectors from different pharmacies across the state will be tested here,” Singhal said during a press briefing.
Built at a cost of Rs 22 crore, the lab building comprises a ground floor and two upper floors. The ground floor houses a reception hall, a sample storage room, and a separate room for security personnel.
“I have been told that equipment worth Rs 22 crore has been installed, which is a significant investment. The equipment is state-of-the-art, and the entire lab is connected to the central drug testing lab in Delhi,” the minister added.
Notably, the first floor is equipped with administrative offices and a conference hall, while the second floor features a state-of-the-art laboratory outfitted with advanced instruments. This lab will play a vital role in ensuring the quality of medicines and taking strict action against counterfeit or substandard drugs.
He added that with the lab now operational, there will no longer be a need to send drug samples to Kolkata or other distant locations for analysis — Assam can now conduct its own tests in a timely manner. He emphasised that this development reaffirms the state government’s commitment to public health and welfare.
NE's first Rs 22 Cr drug lab inaugurated in Assam, capacity of 5,000 tests a year
"With the lab now operational, there will no longer be a need to send drug samples to Kolkata or other distant locations for analysis," says Singhal
Health Minister Ashok Singhal on Friday inaugurated Northeast’s first-ever state drugs testing laboratory at Jalukbari Ayurvedic College.
Guwahati, May 23: Assam’s Health Minister Ashok Singhal on Friday inaugurated the Northeast’s first-ever state drugs testing laboratory at Jalukbari Ayurvedic College.
Speaking at the event, Singhal mentioned that the lab has the capacity to test around 5,000 drug samples annually.
“With the capacity to test around 5,000 drug samples annually, the facility will not only serve Assam but also extend its testing services to all eight Northeastern states,” said Singhal.
Operated under the Department of Health and Family Welfare by the Commissionerate of Food Safety and Drug Control Administration, the facility is expected to enhance the quality standards of healthcare in Assam and usher in a new era in drug quality testing.
“This lab is a state drug control and drug testing lab. Drugs collected by drug inspectors from different pharmacies across the state will be tested here,” Singhal said during a press briefing.
Built at a cost of Rs 22 crore, the lab building comprises a ground floor and two upper floors. The ground floor houses a reception hall, a sample storage room, and a separate room for security personnel.
“I have been told that equipment worth Rs 22 crore has been installed, which is a significant investment. The equipment is state-of-the-art, and the entire lab is connected to the central drug testing lab in Delhi,” the minister added.
Notably, the first floor is equipped with administrative offices and a conference hall, while the second floor features a state-of-the-art laboratory outfitted with advanced instruments. This lab will play a vital role in ensuring the quality of medicines and taking strict action against counterfeit or substandard drugs.
He added that with the lab now operational, there will no longer be a need to send drug samples to Kolkata or other distant locations for analysis — Assam can now conduct its own tests in a timely manner. He emphasised that this development reaffirms the state government’s commitment to public health and welfare.
NE's first Rs 22 Cr drug lab inaugurated in Assam, capacity of 5,000 tests a year
"With the lab now operational, there will no longer be a need to send drug samples to Kolkata or other distant locations for analysis," says Singhal
Health Minister Ashok Singhal on Friday inaugurated Northeast’s first-ever state drugs testing laboratory at Jalukbari Ayurvedic College.
Guwahati, May 23: Assam’s Health Minister Ashok Singhal on Friday inaugurated the Northeast’s first-ever state drugs testing laboratory at Jalukbari Ayurvedic College.
Speaking at the event, Singhal mentioned that the lab has the capacity to test around 5,000 drug samples annually.
“With the capacity to test around 5,000 drug samples annually, the facility will not only serve Assam but also extend its testing services to all eight Northeastern states,” said Singhal.
Operated under the Department of Health and Family Welfare by the Commissionerate of Food Safety and Drug Control Administration, the facility is expected to enhance the quality standards of healthcare in Assam and usher in a new era in drug quality testing.
“This lab is a state drug control and drug testing lab. Drugs collected by drug inspectors from different pharmacies across the state will be tested here,” Singhal said during a press briefing.
Built at a cost of Rs 22 crore, the lab building comprises a ground floor and two upper floors. The ground floor houses a reception hall, a sample storage room, and a separate room for security personnel.
“I have been told that equipment worth Rs 22 crore has been installed, which is a significant investment. The equipment is state-of-the-art, and the entire lab is connected to the central drug testing lab in Delhi,” the minister added.
Notably, the first floor is equipped with administrative offices and a conference hall, while the second floor features a state-of-the-art laboratory outfitted with advanced instruments. This lab will play a vital role in ensuring the quality of medicines and taking strict action against counterfeit or substandard drugs.
He added that with the lab now operational, there will no longer be a need to send drug samples to Kolkata or other distant locations for analysis — Assam can now conduct its own tests in a timely manner. He emphasised that this development reaffirms the state government’s commitment to public health and welfare.