Itanagar, Feb 9: The Arunachal Pradesh State Disaster Management Authority (SDMA), under the guidance of the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), conducted a multi-state level earthquake mock drill on Monday in coordination with Meghalaya and Mizoram to strengthen disaster preparedness and inter-state coordination.
The primary objective of the mock drill was to rehearse decision-making by key disaster managers under simulated earthquake conditions, clarify roles and responsibilities, strengthen inter-agency coordination, and develop an actionable response plan, officials said.
The exercise simulated a 7.6-magnitude earthquake with its epicentre located at Bomdila in West Kameng district. Sirens were sounded at 10 am, followed by the practice of “Duck, Cover and Hold” procedures and evacuation of people to safe locations. The State Emergency Operations Centre (SEOC) and District Emergency Operations Centres (DEOCs) were activated to assess damage and coordinate response efforts.
The Incident Response System (IRS) was activated at both state and district levels to manage simulated mass casualties and large-scale damage. Public advisories were issued through announcement systems, emergency helpline numbers were disseminated, and healthcare facilities were alerted to prepare for mass casualty management. Availability of food grains and essential commodities was also reviewed.
Five simulated disaster scenarios were created across West Kameng, Itanagar Capital Region, Papum Pare and Pakke Kessang districts, including damage to hospitals, market areas, Donyi Polo Airport, OIL installations at Doimukh, landslides and Glacial Lake Outburst Flood (GLOF) incidents.
The exercise concluded with a debriefing session to identify strengths, gaps and areas for improvement. The drill was coordinated by NDMA Senior Consultant Col (Retd) Nadeem Arshad and supervised by Secretary, State Disaster Management Authority, Dani Salu.
Appreciating the active participation of all stakeholders, the Secretary reaffirmed the State Government’s commitment to building a resilient and robust disaster management system in Arunachal Pradesh.
Earlier, during the table-top exercise held on February 6, Member-cum-HoD, NDMA, Lt Gen (Retd) Syed Ata Hasnain, addressed participants online and lauded the State’s proactive engagement. He noted that the Prime Minister’s Office has directed states to conduct regular mock exercises to enhance preparedness and strengthen coordination among key stakeholders.
The exercise witnessed active participation from the Police Department, NDRF, SDRF, APSAC, Telecom Department, PWD, CISF, RWD, General Administration Department, telecom service providers, and other line departments.
DIPRO adds: The District Disaster Management Authority (DDMA), West Kameng district, in collaboration with allied departments, conducted a mock disaster management drill at Bomdila and various sub-divisions of the district.
Imaginary emergency situations were created at strategic locations, where rescue operations were carried out. First aid was administered to the injured, and the patients were subsequently shifted to the General Hospital for further medical attention.