USDMA Begins Preparations on Chief Minister Dhami’s Instructions
Dehradun: Acting on the directions of Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami, the Uttarakhand State Disaster Management Authority (USDMA) has started extensive preparations for a state-level earthquake mock drill to be held across all 13 districts on November 15. The objective is to ensure effective response mechanisms for earthquake-related disasters and to enhance coordination among various departments and agencies.
On Wednesday, a state-level orientation and coordination meeting was chaired by Vinod Kumar Suman, Secretary, Disaster Management and Rehabilitation, to review the preparatory arrangements for the upcoming mock drill. During the meeting, district officials were briefed in detail about the objectives, methodology, and coordination mechanisms for the exercise.
Secretary Suman stated that the Chief Minister has emphasized the need to strengthen coordination among all line departments and central agencies to ensure prompt and efficient relief and rescue operations during disasters. He informed that a table-top exercise will be conducted on November 12, followed by the mock drills in all districts on November 15, under the Incident Response System (IRS) framework.
During the table-top exercise, each district will present its preparedness plan, detailing the availability and deployment of resources, rescue teams, and communication systems.
The meeting was attended by Additional Chief Executive Officer (Administration) Anand Swarup, Additional Chief Executive Officer (Implementation) DIG Rajkumar Negi, Joint Chief Executive Officer Mohammad Obaidullah Ansari, ULMMC Director Dr. Shantanu Sarkar, Dr. Bimalesh Joshi, along with officials and experts from USDMA, ULMMC, and U-Prepare. Officers from all districts and representatives from various technical institutions also participated virtually.
Uttarakhand Lies in High-Risk Earthquake Zones
Highlighting the state’s vulnerability, Secretary Vinod Kumar Suman said that Uttarakhand falls under Seismic Zones IV and V, making it one of the most earthquake-prone regions in the country. He stressed that preparedness is crucial not only at the government level but also at the community level to minimize the impact of potential disasters.
He added that USDMA is continuously working to strengthen the state’s earthquake early warning system in collaboration with IIT Roorkee. The number of sirens and seismic sensors is being increased, and the “Bhudev App” has been developed to send real-time alerts to mobile phones in case of earthquakes of magnitude greater than five.
Evacuation and Relief Plans to Be Tested
The mock drills will include comprehensive evacuation exercises, identifying safe routes, transport arrangements, and designated shelter sites. Maps and charts will be displayed for public awareness, and special focus will be placed on the evacuation and safety of children, women, the elderly, and persons with disabilities.
As part of the drill, relief camps will also be set up and tested for functionality in real-time conditions. These camps will ensure the availability of electricity, water, food, first aid, infant care, and facilities for pregnant women. To ensure the safety of women and children, police and Home Guard personnel will be deployed at the camps.
District Preparedness to Be Evaluated
Additional CEO (Administration) Anand Swarup stated that the earthquake mock drills aim to evaluate the preparedness levels of all districts, improve inter-departmental coordination, and test the availability and effectiveness of rescue equipment and communication systems. The exercises will also assess the operation of relief camps, supply chains for food and water, and health facilities, as well as the functionality of the warning and evacuation systems.
Mock Drills Based on Realistic Scenarios
Additional CEO (Implementation) DIG Rajkumar Negi informed that each district will conduct mock drills based on different disaster scenarios, including:
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Rescue operations following the collapse of multi-storey buildings
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Evacuation of school and college students from damaged buildings
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Bridge and flyover collapses
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Flood rescue operations following a dam breach
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Evacuation from shopping malls and residential complexes
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Industrial accidents involving chemical leaks
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Glacial lake outburst floods (GLOFs)
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Railway track damage and landslides
He added that a night-time mock drill will also be conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of response operations during nighttime disasters.
Strengthening Disaster Preparedness Across the State
The upcoming state-wide exercise will serve as a crucial step in strengthening Uttarakhand’s overall disaster response capabilities. Through inter-agency coordination, technology integration, and public participation, USDMA aims to ensure that the state remains fully prepared to face any seismic emergency.
