Dehradun – In preparation for the upcoming Char Dham Yatra 2025, a comprehensive mock drill was conducted on Thursday under the joint supervision of the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) and the Uttarakhand State Disaster Management Authority (USDMA) at the State Emergency Operations Center (SEOC). Acting on the instructions of Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami, the exercise aimed to assess the readiness of various departments involved in managing the Yatra.
The mock drill was carried out across the key Char Dham districts—Uttarkashi, Chamoli, and Rudraprayag—as well as transit districts including Dehradun, Haridwar, Pauri, and Tehri. Implemented under the Incident Response System (IRS) framework, the drill evaluated the coordination and preparedness of all concerned departments on the ground.
Vinay Kumar Ruhela, Vice President of the State Advisory Committee of the Disaster Management Department, emphasized the importance of such drills in strengthening arrangements for the pilgrimage. He noted that Chief Minister Dhami has been consistently monitoring departmental preparations to ensure a seamless experience for the pilgrims.
Secretary of Disaster Management and Rehabilitation, Vinod Kumar Suman, highlighted that the Chief Minister had specifically directed the organization of this mock drill to identify and address any gaps well before the commencement of the Yatra. Suman affirmed that the primary objective—to bring all relevant departments together on one platform for better disaster and emergency management—was largely achieved. Areas where deficiencies were noted have already been flagged, and immediate steps are being taken to rectify them.
“This mock drill was not just an exercise, but a learning opportunity to enhance our systems further and ensure the safety and convenience of the pilgrims during the Char Dham Yatra,” said Suman. He reiterated that the Disaster Management Department, under the Chief Minister’s leadership, is fully committed to a safe and well-organized Yatra, working in close coordination with all departments.
The event saw the participation of several senior officials, including NDMA Chief Advisor Major General Sudhir Bahl, Additional Chief Executive Officer (Administration) Anand Swaroop, Additional Chief Executive Officer (Implementation) DIG Rajkumar Negi, Additional Secretary Vineet Kumar, 15th Battalion NDRF Commandant SK Daral, Finance Controller Abhishek Kumar Anand, and Joint Chief Executive Officer Mohd. Obaidullah Ansari, among others.
