The Accidents division of Bihar State Disaster Management Authority is responsible for understanding the state specific accident related risks/vulnerabilities and developing the prevention, mitigation and risk reduction strategies pertaining to Water Accidents, Road Accidents, Rail Accidents and Air Accidents. Functioning under the leadership of a Sr. Advisor and supported by highly experienced professional team including Water, Road, Rail and Air safety experts. Its core objective is to develop synergy among concerned departments, identifying gaps, promote coordinated planning, awareness and capacity building efforts for reducing the loss of life, injuries, and property damage through coordinated. 

Roles and Responsibilities: 

Mitigation, Prevention/Risk Reduction for reducing the Road Accidents

• Provide doable guidance to all stakeholders in such a manner that the responsibility assigned to different departments in Bihar Road Safety Action Plan (BRSAP) should be effectively discharged by departments concerned in a time bound manner.
• Coordinate the sincere efforts of departments/stakeholders involved in implementation of multi-pronged strategy based on 4 Es and aware them about existing gaps at policy as well as implementation level.
• Developing Guidelines/SOPs for reducing road accident risks and ensure its implementation.
• Mitigation strategies/reducing risk of road accidents should be planned in collaboration with all concerned departments and district disaster management authorities according to the existing vulnerabilities and emerging risks/black spots of the specific district.
• Collection of accident data and its analysis for updating the existing guidelines for prevention/reduction of road accidents.
• Capacity building of stakeholders for appropriate road safety education, engineering, enforcement and emergency care.
• Coordinate with all concerned stakeholders i.e. transport, urban development, law enforcement, disaster, health department to enhance preparedness actions.

Mitigation, Prevention/Risk Reduction for reducing the Drowning Incidents

• Provide support to District Disaster Management Authorities (DDMAs) with technical inputs required for formulating local specific drowning prevention strategies.
• Updating the Drowning Prevention Action Plan keeping in view of changing patterns of risks/hazards/ sites of drowning incidents. 
• Implementation of community awareness and capacity-building programmes for drowning prevention.  All sections of the community, along with local administration, panchayat representatives and other stakeholders to be sensitized to prevent drowning incidents especially during the monsoon season.
• Sensitizing children and mothers from time to time through Anganwadi centres/Jeevika Didis/other community level institutions.
• Identification of dangerous sites/Ghats with the support of district disaster management authorities and other stakeholders, advise them for taking need based appropriate remedial actions.    
•  Implementation of Safe Swimming Programme with focus on community and children.
• Conducting studies in drowning prone districts/ high-risk districts to understand socioeconomic factors, people behaviours, and local practices contributing to drowning incidents. Analyse trends of drowning incidents by location, season, age, and gender to support decision-making.
• Carry out risk assessment/ hazard mapping using remote sensing, GIS-based hazard mapping and real-time monitoring of water bodies.
• Develop a cadre of local responders by providing specialized training to panchayat representatives and local community.
• Disseminate safety messages through schools, Panchayats, SHGs, Anganwadi centres, and local media.
• Document best practices and lessons learnt.
• Design and implement IEC and Behaviour Change Communication (BCC) strategies for drowning prevention.

Mitigation, Prevention/Risk Reduction for reducing the Boat Accidents

• Conducting coordination meetings with all concerned departments for safe boat transportation in the State in alignment with the guidelines issued by BSDMA.
• Providing requisite Support to transport department for risk assessment, prevention/mitigation and preparedness in coordination with district administrations for compliance with recommended safety standards.
• Issuing advisories to districts and concerned stakeholders regarding safe boat transportation.
• Carry out capacity building and awareness activities, including training of boatmen and boat owners, boat surveyors and registering officers.
• According to change in risk/hazard scenario in various districts the guidelines on safe boat transportation to be updated annually. 

Mitigation, Prevention/Risk Reduction for reducing the Rail/Air Incidents

• Conduct coordination meetings with Indian railway, Airport Authority other concerned stakeholders including emergency responders.
• Strengthen inter-agency coordination, emergency responders and district administration.
• Coordinate with all concerned departments for IRS-based training, joint mock drills/mock exercises with District Administration, SDRF/NDRF, Police, Fire Services, and Health Department.
• Maintain updated resource inventory and integrate with BSDRN.
• Provide Support in dissemination of actionable advisories to Indian railway, airport authorities and district administration.