Umesh named general education director; Priyanka is new Ernakulam collector
Palakkad collector G Priyanka will replace Umesh as head of the Ernakulam district adminstration. Umesh's two-and-a-half-year tenure in Ernakulam was marked by high-pressure crises and active administrative intervention.
A 2014-batch officer, Umesh took charge in March 2023, stepping in during one of the worst environmental emergencies in the district — the Brahmapuram dumpyard fire. The blaze, which caused widespread pollution and panic in Kochi city, was his first major challenge as collector.
His handling of the crisis — including coordination with multiple departments, rapid deployment of fire control measures, and subsequent efforts to revamp the waste management system — won him praise and set the tone for a tenure defined by crisis management and developmental work.
During his stint, he also dealt with critical situations such as the Kalamassery bomb blast and the Cusat stampede. His coordination of Operation Breakthrough, aimed at mitigating urban flooding in Kochi, was another key achievement.
For these and other initiatives, Umesh received multiple recognitions — including the 'Best Collector' award from the state revenue survey department in 2024, the National Human Rights and Humanitarian Federation (NHRF) award in 2025, and the 'Best Election Officer' award for his conduct of the 2024 Lok Sabha election.
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