Crisis management involves implementing policies and procedures to defend, mitigate and prevent a crisis
Innovative application of bespoke strategies crafted to help deal with a sudden and significant negative event while maintaining continuity is called crisis management. Crisis management involves implementing policies and procedures to defend, mitigate and prevent a crisis.
During my service period, I faced many natural and man-made catastrophes, which were addressed through innovation, personal involvement and directions. A few outstanding examples are:
Remember Kutch Tropical Cyclone 03A in 1999, which devastated coastal communities and salt mines? All the disaster mitigation and contingency plans were thrown to the wind. An estimated 4,000 to 10,000 people were killed. At least1,173 people died and 1,774 went missing.
The power supply was lost due to the storm’s high winds. The collapse of the microwave tower caused disruptions in telecommunications. Hundreds of power transmission towers also fell. Over 1,62,000 structures were damaged, and damages amounted to Rs120 billion (US$ 3 billion). In Kandla, the damages were estimated at around Rs 1,855.33 crore.
District SP with international borders faced the biggest humanitarian crisis and the biggest problem was thedocumentation, identification and disposal of the dead bodies. Relief and rehabilitation were yet another challenge. Everything being wet, there was no combustible material available for cremation. Dead bodies were collected and heaped for cremation with diesel, which was available. This taught me the application of humanitarian forensics. A VIP visit by the PM was successfully organised. Personal presence, decisions and direction held the fort.
In the recent past, the Kutch earthquake of 2001 was yet another life-time experience of human tragedy. I volunteered to offer my services, as I had served in Kutch sometimes ago. The cyclone experience came in very handy for managing the crisis in coordination with various government agencies.
As Superintendent of Police of Kheda District in Gujarat, I have experienced the prowess of the K9s during law and order situations. Stone-pelting students were nabbed by the K9 Force by sniffing the stones. All were arrested by the sniffer mighty K9s. There was a huge uproar that the police had arrested him without any evidence. The K9 evidence silenced everyone. I used the sniffers in a stabbing case. The person stabbing stood near a wall, waiting for the person to be stabbed. After the person was stabbed, the wall was sniffed by the dog and we found the culprit.
Kutch used sniffer dogs to locate 25 kg of hidden RDX on the international borders with Pakistan.
-By Keshav Kumar (IPS) (Retd.), Director General of Police & Director Anti Corruption Bureau, Gujarat State. Consulatant to Government of Assam, Home & Political Affairs Department