Press Release

Kathua, August 6, 2026:

Civil Defence Kathua organised a one-day Civil Defence Training Programme for more than 50 first-year BHMS (Bachelor of Homoeopathic Medicine and Surgery) students of Government Homoeopathic Medical College (GHMC), Kathua, at Lecture Theatre-II (LT-2), Government Medical College (GMC), Kathua. At the culmination of the programme, all participating students were enrolled as Civil Defence Warriors, marking an important step towards strengthening community preparedness, emergency response capacity, and the spirit of volunteerism among young healthcare professionals.

The programme was conducted under the overall supervision of Dr. S. K. Atri, Principal, Government Medical College, Kathua, and coordinated by Dr. Anayat Mir, Associate Professor and Chief Warden, Civil Defence Baramulla.

The training was aimed at developing the capacity of students to act as responsible first community responders during emergencies, disasters, and other crisis situations. Special emphasis was placed on understanding the importance of First Aid and Basic Life Support (BLS) as critical skills for community responders. Students were sensitised to the fact that timely first aid and early initiation of BLS can play a vital role in preserving life, preventing further deterioration, and bridging the crucial gap between the occurrence of an emergency and the arrival of professional emergency services.

The major sessions of the programme included:

• First Aid and Basic Life Support (BLS) by Dr. Anayat Mir, MD, with emphasis on the role of healthcare students as first community responders.
• Drug Addiction in the Perspective of Hybrid Warfare by Dr. Javid, MD, focusing on the emerging challenges associated with substance abuse and its wider social and security implications.
• Principles of Disaster Risk Reduction and Emergency Response by the SDRF Kathua team.

A special practical and demonstration session was conducted by the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), Kathua. The SDRF team demonstrated essential techniques related to fire safety, firefighting, search and rescue operations, emergency response, and relief measures. Students were also familiarised with various emergency response tools and equipment used during disaster situations. The practical demonstrations made the training highly interactive and provided the participants with valuable exposure to real-life emergency response procedures.

The programme commenced with a welcome address by Mr. Pankaj, Administrative Officer, Government Medical College, Kathua, who appreciated the initiative and encouraged the students to actively participate in activities aimed at strengthening community safety, disaster preparedness, and public service.

The proceedings were efficiently anchored by Mr. Kapil, Divisional Warden, Civil Defence Kathua, who ensured the smooth and effective conduct of the inaugural, technical, and practical sessions.

During the inaugural session, Mr. Dhain Chand (Former MLA Kathua), Chief Warden, Civil Defence Kathua, briefed the participants about the organisational structure, objectives, functions, and operational role of Civil Defence. He emphasised the importance of community participation and trained volunteers in supporting the civil administration during disasters, emergencies, and other challenging situations.

The programme was appreciated by the administration, faculty members, and participating students for its practical orientation and comprehensive coverage of first aid, BLS, disaster preparedness, emergency response, fire safety, search and rescue, and community resilience. The training also highlighted the important role that trained healthcare students can play in strengthening the first-response mechanism at the community level.

The programme concluded with a vote of thanks by Mr. Bhagwan Das, DYSP (DAR) and In-charge, Civil Defence Kathua, who congratulated the students on successfully completing the training and their enrolment as Civil Defence Warriors. He encouraged them to uphold the values of discipline, dedication, preparedness, humanitarian service, and responsibility towards society, and to remain ready to assist the community during emergencies and disasters.

The programme marked a significant initiative towards creating a cadre of trained, disciplined, and socially responsible young healthcare professionals capable of contributing effectively as first community responders during disasters and emergencies.