Young innovators showcase earthquake-resistant models

The Disaster Management Cell of the Department of Revenue, Himachal Pradesh State Disaster Management Authority (HPSDMA), in collaboration with the Centre for Science Learning & Creativity (CSLC), Anandpur, Shimla, on Thursday organised a state-level competition on safe construction models in educational institutions as part of the month-long disaster awareness campaign “SAMARTH-2025.”

Observed across Himachal Pradesh from October 1 to 31, the campaign aims to strengthen awareness on disaster-resilient infrastructure and foster a culture of safety and preparedness across the state. Under this flagship initiative, a series of events and activities are being conducted to promote disaster risk reduction, community preparedness and safe construction practices.

The Safe Construction Model Competition was conducted in three phases — block level, district level and state level — across three categories: high school, senior secondary school and college. Winners from each district competed at the state level, showcasing innovative and technically sound models that illustrated earthquake-resistant and hazard-resilient construction techniques.

Participants were evaluated on a comprehensive set of parameters, including structural safety and stability, design innovation and creativity, technical accuracy, local relevance, sustainability, clarity of concept and feasibility of application.

A spokesperson of the HPSDMA said the initiative seeks to inspire students and young engineers to adopt and promote safe construction practices suited to the Himalayan region’s unique seismic and climatic conditions.

The top three winning entries from the state-level competition will be presented during the state-level function in Shimla on October 14, 2025, marking the observance of the International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction (IDDRR).