Strong Coordination Observed in Mock Drill; State-Level Exercise Successfully Concludes
Dehradun: The second phase of the two-day state-level mock drill conducted to assess disaster preparedness in Uttarakhand concluded successfully on Wednesday. The exercise was organized under the guidance and close supervision of the Uttarakhand State Disaster Management Authority, covering eight districts—Haridwar, Dehradun, Udham Singh Nagar, Chamoli, Champawat, Tehri, Pithoragarh, and Almora.
All stages of the mock drill were continuously monitored from the State Emergency Operations Center. Various disaster scenarios, including floods, landslides, earthquakes, industrial accidents, forest fires, road accidents, human-wildlife conflict, and stampede situations, were simulated to evaluate inter-departmental coordination, response time, and efficient utilization of resources.
Disaster Management and Rehabilitation Secretary Vinod Kumar Suman stated that the mock exercises conducted over the two days were successful and reflected strong coordination among departments and agencies. He noted that the response time, availability of resources, and ground-level operational efficiency were satisfactory. He also emphasized that gaps and challenges identified during the drills would be thoroughly analyzed and addressed promptly to enhance preparedness for real disaster situations.
Key District-wise Highlights
Haridwar: Mock drills were conducted at Har Ki Pauri, Shivpul, Mansa Devi route, Laksar, and Roorkee, focusing on complex scenarios like floods and stampedes. Simulations included sudden rise in Ganga water levels, embankment breaches, and people being swept away. Rescue teams demonstrated effective crowd management, swift evacuation, and medical response.
Dehradun: Multi-hazard scenarios were tested in Rishikesh, Vikasnagar, Mussoorie, and Kalsi. Situations like explosions at Char Dham Yatra transit camps, post-earthquake fires, landslides, and bus accidents were handled through coordinated efforts of police, SDRF, NDRF, and health departments.
Udham Singh Nagar: Exercises in Kichha, Gadarpur, Khatima, Kashipur, and Pantnagar focused on floods, industrial accidents, and human-wildlife conflict. The drills evaluated industrial safety measures, emergency response systems, and medical preparedness.
Chamoli: Mock drills simulated tunnel collapse, earthquakes, landslides, avalanches, and forest fires. Teams practiced rescue operations, evacuation, and relief distribution in affected areas.
Champawat: Comprehensive multi-disaster scenarios such as road blockages, landslides, floods, waterlogging, earthquakes, human-wildlife conflict, and forest fires were tested across multiple locations.
Pithoragarh: Multi-location drills covered earthquakes, landslides, highway blockages, forest fires, and chemical gas leaks. Rescue operations, medical assistance, and road clearance mechanisms were thoroughly tested.
Almora: Areas including Ranikhet, Dwarahat, Salt, Bhikiyasain, and Lamgada witnessed simulations of earthquakes, forest fires, and road accidents. Rescue from debris and medical evacuation procedures were effectively demonstrated.
