Oct. 27: The metropolitan administration has lined up a series of programmes, including a cycle rally and a candlelit procession, to observe the National Disaster Reduction Day on Saturday.

Besides involving students, senior citizens and the NGOs in the programmes, the administration is also planning to hold various sensitisation programmes on natural disasters for city police. The Guwahati Blind School and the Deaf and Dumb School will also observe the day.

The officers-in-charge of the police stations have been asked to co-ordinate with their respective nagarik samitees for organising local functions. All police officials have been asked to attend the awareness programmes.

“Whenever a disaster strikes, people first rush to the police for help. Therefore, it is important to ensure effective co-ordination between the citizens and the police stations,” an official said.

The disaster reduction day celebrations will begin with a cycle rally, which will start from the T.C. Girls’ Govt H.S. School on the GNB Road. Members of the National Service Scheme units of all the colleges, homeguards and the NCC volunteers will participate in the rally.

Following the rally, school students will take out a procession carrying placards with eye-catching and creative messages on earthquake safety measures.

A central meeting will be held at the T.C. School where the top officials of the Assam government will talk on disaster mitigation methods. Chief minister Tarun Gogoi is also expected to attend the function.

Deputy commissioner Samir Kumar Sinha said the disaster reduction day assumes great significance in view of the recent devastating earthquake in Muzaffarabad.