Dehradun: The Uttarakhand State Disaster Management Authority (USDMA) has initiated robust preparations for the upcoming Chardham Yatra to ensure the safety and well-being of pilgrims. As part of these efforts, a large-scale mock drill will be conducted on April 24 across the districts associated with the Yatra. The drill is being jointly organized by the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) and USDMA.
Secretary of Disaster Management and Rehabilitation, Vinod Kumar Suman, chaired a high-level departmental meeting on Saturday at the USDMA office located in IT Park. Reviewing the preparations for the upcoming mock drill, he issued key directives to officials. Suman emphasized that with lakhs of pilgrims from across India and abroad expected to undertake the Yatra, ensuring their safety is the government’s topmost priority.
He stated that, under the guidance of Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami, the Disaster Management Department is making comprehensive preparations. The Chief Minister has been closely monitoring the planning process and has issued necessary instructions to all departments to ensure smooth coordination.
“All districts involved have been instructed to prepare disaster management plans and Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) specifically for the Chardham Yatra,” said Suman.
He further mentioned that a similar mock drill was conducted last year in collaboration with the NDMA, resulting in valuable insights and recommendations that contributed to the smooth conduct of the Yatra. This year, the mock drill will be organized across seven districts, with each one evaluated based on its preparedness to manage potential disasters.
Simulated scenarios such as landslides, heavy rainfall, traffic jams and crowd surges will be created during the drill to assess the effectiveness and speed of response by local relief and rescue teams. Identified shortcomings will be addressed to formulate a more effective disaster management strategy.
Key Dates:
Orientation & Coordination Conference: April 16
Table Top Exercise: April 22
Mock Drill: April 24
These exercises will be conducted under the direct supervision of NDMA officials. They will evaluate preparedness in handling various emergency situations, including crowd management, road blockages, landslides, and other potential hazards.
The main Chardham districts — Uttarkashi, Chamoli and Rudraprayag — will be the focus of the exercise, while Tehri, Pauri, Haridwar, and Dehradun are categorized as transit districts due to their significant role in facilitating Yatra movement.
During the mock drill, all participating departments will demonstrate their response mechanisms and strategies to handle situations such as stampedes, blocked routes, market congestion, and adverse weather conditions. The goal is to ensure that every pilgrim’s journey is safe, smooth, and well-managed.
