Preneeta Sharma
Shimla, August 6:
The Himachal Pradesh State Disaster Management Authority (HPSDMA), Department of Revenue, Government of Himachal Pradesh, on Thursday organised a one-day orientation workshop on “Media Communication and Information Management During Disasters” for media professionals.
The workshop focused on improving crisis communication, responsible reporting, coordinated public messaging and information management during disasters. The programme was chaired by Dr. Pushpendra Rana, Director-cum-Special Secretary (Revenue & Disaster Management). Additional Secretaries Nishant Thakur and Sunil Verma were also present. Technical sessions were conducted by Hridayesh Joshi and Mayank Aggarwal, followed by an interactive discussion with journalists.
During the interaction, media representatives highlighted that disaster-related information often reaches the media and the public after significant delays, hampering timely reporting and creating confusion during emergencies. Journalists also pointed to the lack of a streamlined communication mechanism between field agencies and the media.
Responding to the concerns, Dr. Pushpendra Rana acknowledged that manpower shortages remain a major challenge in disaster management, affecting the speed of information collection and dissemination from the ground. He said the department is working to strengthen coordination and improve the flow of authentic information during emergencies.
Media professionals stressed that delays in official communication often allow rumours and misinformation to spread, underscoring the need for faster, transparent and verified updates during disasters. They urged the state disaster management authority to establish a more robust real-time information-sharing system to ensure accurate and timely public communication.
