Disaster Management

Disaster management in Tawang district focuses on preparedness, mitigation, rapid response, and community resilience due to the district’s high-altitude terrain and environmental vulnerabilities.

Key Geographical & Hazard Profile

• Terrain & Elevation: Located in high-altitude Himalayan ranges (elevation 3,500 ft to over 22,500 ft) with steep slopes and fast-flowing rivers like Tawang Chuu and Nyamjang Chuu.
• Landslides & Soil Erosion: High-velocity river currents and steep slopes cause continuous soil washing and hill slope destabilization.
• Heavy Snowfall & Freezing: Winter temperatures drop below freezing (down to -10°C at passes like Sela Pass), causing road blockades and travel disruptions.
• Seismic Vulnerability: The region lies in an active seismic zone with historical earthquake impacts.
• Unstable Frozen Water Bodies: High-altitude lakes present structural hazards during winter freezes.

Institutional Framework & Administrative Setup

Disaster management operations in Tawang are institutionalized under the District Disaster Management Authority (DDMA):

• Chairperson / District Magistrate: Deputy Commissioner (IAS), providing overall administrative leadership and crisis management.
• Incident Commander (Disaster Management): Shri Rinchin Leta, Additional Deputy Commissioner (ADC).
• Nodal Officer / Branch Head: Smti. Genden Tsomu, District Disaster Management Officer (DDMO).
• First Link Officer: Smti. Dorjee Lhamu, AMDO.
• Second Link Officer: Smti. Tsering Deki, DTO.
• Armed Forces & Paramilitary Coordination: Active liaison with the Indian Army, Border Roads Task Force (BRTF), and SSB (stationed at Sela Pass) for search, rescue, and road clearance.

Core Objectives of the District Disaster Management Plan (DDMP)

• Prevention & Mitigation: Identifying hazard-prone zones along major transit routes (such as the Tezpur–Tawang corridor) and implementing slope stabilization and drainage management.
• Preparedness: Maintaining emergency response inventories, deploying winter clearance machinery (snowplows, non-skid chain protocols), and issuing seasonal travel advisories.
• Response & Relief: Rapid activation of the Incident Command System under the ADC and coordination with local health infrastructure (District Hospital Tawang).
• Capacity Building: Community-level training and integration with local Gaon Burahs (GBs) and Gram Panchayats for grassroots disaster reporting and first-aid support.

Emergency Contacts & Public Redressal

The district has developed a separate disaster management body, The details of which can be downloaded, Click here to download