Puri Hosts BRICS DRR Working Group Meet; Focus on Global Disaster Resilience

Puri: The second technical meeting of the BRICS Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) Working Group commenced in Puri on Wednesday, bringing together policymakers, disaster management experts and officials from 11 BRICS member and partner countries to deliberate on strategies for strengthening disaster resilience and risk mitigation.

The three-day meeting, scheduled to continue until June 5, marks the first in-person technical meeting of the BRICS DRR Working Group under India’s BRICS Presidency.

Discussions during the meeting are focused on sustainable financing for disaster risk reduction, resilient infrastructure, anticipatory response mechanisms and the integration of traditional knowledge into disaster resilience frameworks. The agenda also includes community-based disaster risk governance, disaster risk financing, multi-hazard early warning systems, climate-resilient infrastructure, nature-based and indigenous solutions, and the role of science, technology and innovation in disaster risk reduction.

Originally comprising Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa, the BRICS grouping expanded in 2024 with the inclusion of Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran and United Arab Emirates, while Indonesia joined in 2025.

Ahead of the meeting, Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi described the event as a matter of pride for Odisha, saying it reflected growing global recognition of the state’s achievements in disaster preparedness and management. In a social media post, he said the gathering would provide an opportunity to showcase Odisha’s internationally acclaimed disaster management model and its commitment to building resilient communities.

Leader of the Opposition Naveen Patnaik also welcomed the event, highlighting Odisha’s transformation into a globally recognised model of disaster management since the devastating 1999 Odisha Super Cyclone.

“Proud to see Puri hosting the BRICS Disaster Risk Reduction Working Group Meeting. Since the 1999 Super Cyclone, Odisha has faced nature’s fury with courage and conviction, guided by one principle—every life is precious. Our famed zero‑casualty model, rooted in resilient infrastructure and community readiness, has transformed Odisha from vulnerability into a global beacon of disaster management. Welcome all delegates. Together, let us forge pathways to a safer, more resilient world”, Naveen wrote on his ‘X’ handle.