Una, July 20: In view of the increasing frequency and intensity of natural disasters in Himachal Pradesh since 2023, the Himachal Pradesh State Disaster Management Authority (HPSDMA) has taken a significant initiative to make disaster management more effective, swift, and citizen-centric. As part of this effort, all government officials, employees, and citizens are urged to download the ‘Aapda Rakshak’ mobile app and use it actively.
Ishant Jaswal, CEO of the District Disaster Management Authority and Additional Deputy Commissioner (ADC) of Una, stated that through this app, citizens can directly report major disaster-related incidents to the state disaster management system using the ‘Citizen Login’ feature. This will ensure the timely availability of information during disasters, accelerate relief and rescue operations, help minimize the loss of life and property, and further strengthen the state's disaster response capabilities.
Mr. Jaswal mentioned that the State Disaster Management Authority has called upon all departments to encourage their officers and staff to download the app and to also involve their families, colleagues, and the general public. He noted that special emphasis is being placed on reporting future disaster-related incidents through the app's ‘Citizen Reporting’ feature.
He informed that the ‘Aapda Rakshak’ app is currently available via the web portal https://hpsdma.hp.gov.in/AppLogin.aspx and will soon be available on the Google Play Store. Additionally, a detailed user manual has been provided to simplify the app's operation and usage.
The ADC added that in the near future, additional disaster management features—including a tourist registration module—will be introduced in the app. These services will foster better coordination among tourists, citizens, government agencies, and disaster relief teams, thereby strengthening pre-disaster preparedness and rapid response mechanisms. He stated that for any technical assistance or information regarding the 'Aapda Rakshak' mobile app, the concerned officer, Dr. Rohit Chauhan (HPSDMA, Shimla), can be contacted at 94184-82869.