Dehradun: To assess the preparedness of various line departments in the event of an earthquake and other earthquake-related disasters, a state-level mock drill was conducted on Saturday at over 80 locations across all 13 districts of the state. This is the first time the USDMA has conducted a mock drill on such a large scale. Organized by the Uttarakhand State Disaster Management Authority, the mock drill was monitored from the State Emergency Operations Center. Chief Secretary Anand Bardhan visited the SEOC and inspected the mock drill. He interacted with the District Magistrates via video conferencing to obtain information on the status of relief and rescue operations, team deployments, damage, and departmental coordination. He also spoke with incident commanders and personnel engaged in relief and rescue operations at ground zero. During this, he asked the districts what kind of support they needed at the state level.
Chief Secretary Anand Bardhan stated that the purpose of this statewide mock drill was to test administrative preparedness in the event of an earthquake, strengthen coordination between various departments, identify and address shortcomings in the communication and coordination system, and assess rapid response capabilities at the field level, so that there would be no delays or confusion in the event of a real disaster.
The Chief Secretary directed all District Magistrates to prepare detailed documentation of the mock drill, and to address any deficiencies or improvements identified during the exercise on a priority basis at the district level. He also assured that the government would provide the necessary resources, technical assistance, and all necessary support for these corrective measures.
During the inspection, he specifically emphasized improving the response time of rescue and relief teams, re-evaluating officers’ responsibilities under the IRS system, improving communication between the SEOC and DEOC, and ensuring preparedness by departments involved in hospitals, schools, power projects, and other critical infrastructure by reviewing their SOPs. He stated that such mock drills strengthen the state’s disaster management capabilities and are extremely effective in ensuring well-coordinated response during a real crisis.
Hon’ble Vice Chairman, State Advisory Committee, Disaster Management Department, Vinay Kumar Ruhela, stated that the earthquake mock drill is an important test of the state’s actual preparedness, and it is essential to immediately implement the lessons learned from this exercise. He urged that any areas requiring improvement identified during the drill should be addressed promptly at the departmental level, and that all teams deployed in the field should increase their preparedness in accordance with their respective responsibilities. He also urged the district administration, USDMA, and all relevant departments to strengthen coordination, as a quick and organized response to any disaster ensures the safety of life and safety. Ruhela directed officials to regularly review equipment, manpower, and communication systems.
Secretary of Disaster Management and Rehabilitation, Vinod Kumar Suman, stated that the mock drill had successfully achieved its objectives. Some shortcomings were identified, which will be addressed to avoid any difficulties during a real disaster. He urged that any shortcomings identified during the exercise be addressed without delay, and that all departments share their suggestions and observations with the USDMA so that the actual experience from the drill can be useful in future preparations.
He directed that there be no shortage of necessary equipment and that full training on the operation of the equipment to be used in the field be mandatory, so that teams can respond promptly and efficiently in any disaster situation. He also urged all departments involved in the mock drill to systematically document their response, allowing for in-depth analysis of response time, coordination, and resource utilization.
Secretary Suman emphasized the need to ensure that quick response teams are more capable, resourced, and prepared for rapid action, and emphasized the need to increase the number of volunteers and provide them with regular training. He stated that the state government’s goal is clear: zero deaths in disasters. To achieve this, all departments must strengthen, enhance their preparedness, and ensure timely preparedness.
Present on the occasion were IG Fire Mukhtar Mohsin, Additional Chief Executive Officer Administration Anand Swaroop, Additional Chief Executive Officer Implementation DIG Rajkumar Negi, Joint Chief Executive Officer Mohammad Obaidullah Ansari, Dr. Bimalesh Joshi, and others.
