A ‘State Level Mock Exercise on Earthquake’ to test disaster response and relief operations was conducted across all districts of Mizoram today. The exercise was organized by the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) and the Disaster Management & Rehabilitation (DM&R) Department. Mock scenarios involving building collapses, fire outbreaks, and various casualties caused by an earthquake were staged at 36 locations across the state. Operations at District Emergency Operation Centres, Incident Sites, Staging Areas, and Relief Camps were monitored via Video Conferencing. Brig. Ravinder Gurung (Retd.), Sr. Consultant, NDMA, monitored the proceedings from the State Emergency Operation Centre, accompanied by State Observers Pu PC Lallawmsanga, IPS (Retd.), Former Principal Secretary, DM&R, and Pu Dominic Lalhmangaiha, Former Director, DM&R.
The exercise commenced at 10:00 AM. It involved the active participation of District Quick Response Forces, Fire & Emergency Services, NDRF, SDRF, and units from Assam and Tripura including the CISF, Assam Rifles, BSF, medical teams, NGOs, and volunteers. Various line departments such as PHE, PWD, P&E, Transport, and I&PR also participated in simulating rescue and relief operations amidst collapsed buildings, fires, road blockages, and communication failures. Officials from NDMA and DM&R also visited the Relief Camps set up for the injured.
To test the efficiency of rescue and relief operations under low-light conditions, the State Level Mock Exercise will resume at 5:00 PM this evening.
