The Key considerations behind selecting Puri as the venue for the BRICS 2026 Meeting of the Disaster Risk Reduction Group (DRRG)

June 2026 : Puri has been selected as the venue for the BRICS 2026 Meeting of the Disaster Risk Reduction Group (DRRG) due to its significance as a coastal region vulnerable to cyclones, storm surges and related hazards, while also representing a globally recognised model of disaster resilience.

Odisha has demonstrated remarkable progress in disaster risk reduction, transforming from the devastating 1999 Super Cyclone, which claimed thousands of lives to achieving near-zero casualty outcomes during major cyclones in recent years through sustained investments in preparedness, early warning systems, evacuation planning, resilient infrastructure and community-based disaster response.

The State Government and the Odisha State Disaster Management Authority (OSDMA) have continuously strengthened cyclone preparedness and last-mile early warning dissemination, making Odisha an internationally acknowledged example of effective coastal disaster management.

Puri also hosts the annual Jagannath Rath Yatra, which attracts over one crore pilgrims, often under extreme heatwave conditions. The event is managed safely through robust preparedness measures, coordinated response mechanisms and efficient crowd management systems.

For NDMA, organising the meeting in Puri provides BRICS member countries an opportunity to observe field-level best practices in coastal resilience, community participation, and multi-hazard disaster preparedness. The selection of the venue also aligns with India’s objective of promoting knowledge exchange and scalable community-based disaster management models under BRICS cooperation.

Anshuman Sahoo