Chobun Takes Disaster Awareness Door-to-Door Ahead of Monsoon

Abar Khams. With rainfall increasing as the monsoon season approaches, Chobun Township under Abar Khams City has intensified its regular disaster prevention and rescue awareness campaign. Staff from the local administration, geological hazard monitors, and volunteer teams have been visiting villages and homes to inform citizens about disaster risks, ways to stay safe from floods and landslides, and precautions to take during emergencies.

According to the township administration, the public awareness campaign has been conducted in settlements, farmlands, high-risk geographical areas, and locations near rivers and streams since the latter half of May, following an increase in rainfall. The primary objective of the campaign is to strengthen the notion of “safety first, prevention foremost” among local residents.

In villages under Chobun Township, staff have been distributing disaster prevention materials while engaging with citizens in the local language. Geological hazard monitors have also held direct meetings with farmers resting after completing their work in the fields, informing them about landslides, floods, rockfall risks, emergency exit routes, and safe locations.

In particular, taking the opportunity of local residents gathering in the farmlands of Teuche village, the monitoring team distributed awareness materials, including ‘Essential Disaster Prevention Knowledge.’ The team explained the nature of common geological hazards and flood-related risks in the local area, teaching citizens about disaster preparedness, ways to avoid risks, and life-saving skills during emergencies in an engaging, simple, and practical manner.

During the campaign, local residents raised various questions about disaster risks, safe locations, precautions during rainfall, and rescue operations. The monitors answered these questions and urged citizens to report risks in a timely manner, avoid unnecessary travel near streams, drains, and landslide-prone areas, and pay special attention to the safety of children and the elderly.

Alongside the awareness campaign, Chobun Township has also systematised the inspection of high-risk areas. The administration formed a special inspection team and conducted detailed checks in 70 major risk areas over two phases. The township administration stated that the condition of each sensitive area was studied using a “dragnet-style search” method to identify potential risks.

Potential risks identified during the inspections have been catalogued. Responsible agencies and individuals have been clearly designated for four of the high-risk locations. Furthermore, a detailed action plan has been prepared for risk control and improvement. The administration aims to eliminate risks before potential accidents occur by implementing the working mechanism of “early identification, early decision, and early management.”

To date, Chobun Township has conducted disaster awareness programmes 46 times, reaching out to farmlands and households. Over 3,000 citizens have benefited from these programmes, and more than 1,200 awareness booklets and informational materials have been distributed.

According to the local administration, the campaign has increased citizens’ vigilance towards disaster risks. An environment is beginning to take shape where monsoon-related risks are understood not solely as a government responsibility, but as a shared responsibility of the community, families, and every citizen.

This initiative by Chobun Township presents a positive example of how public participation, the use of local language, direct dialogue, and preparedness are crucial for making disaster management effective in rural areas. The administration has stated that it will continue to further strengthen the regular monitoring of high-risk areas, citizen awareness, emergency preparedness, and rescue mechanisms in the days to come.