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News18
4 days ago
- Politics
- News18
Fortnight-long mock drill exercise on disaster management begins in Leh
Agency: PTI Leh/Jammu, Aug 12 (PTI) A fortnight-long mock drill exercise began on Tuesday to enhance disaster preparedness and address shortcomings in operations in Leh district of the Union Territory (UT) of Ladakh, officials said. The exercises will focus on inter-agency coordination, casualty management in hospitals, and school evacuation drills to ensure preparedness for any emergency. The mock drill exercise commenced with a disaster management orientation and coordination conference for the upcoming UT-level exercise, held in virtual mode in Leh, with Lead Consultant, National Disaster Management Authority, Major General Sudhir Bahl, in the chair, they said. Major General Bahl, who chaired the session virtually, aimed to enhance disaster preparedness and address shortcomings from previous operations. He covered the Incident Response System (IRS), allocation of nodal officers, early warning mechanisms and coordinated planning for disaster and rescue operations. He emphasised the need for awareness drives, inter-departmental coordination and regular training in line with NDMA guidelines. He also urged close collaboration with the Army, ITBP and Air Force for operational support and explained differences in urban and rural response execution. From August 12–18, preparations and coordination besides awareness drives, resource mapping, communication planning, training and rehearsals will be carried out, they said. This will be followed by a tabletop exercise (TTEx) — SDMA updates, civil defence preparedness and scenario-based response presentations — by districts and departments on August 19. On August 20, preparations for the mock exercise will include simulation site setup, activation of EOCs, IRTs, IRS facilities (relief camps) and communication checks. The day and night mock drill exercises will take place from August 21–22, including response and ground visits. The programme will conclude on August 23. PTI AB KSS KSS (This story has not been edited by News18 staff and is published from a syndicated news agency feed - PTI) view comments First Published: August 12, 2025, 20:15 IST Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Time of India
24-04-2025
- Time of India
Statewide mock drill held to boost Char Dham Yatra readiness
Dehradun: With an aim to bolster safety and preparedness for the upcoming Char Dham Yatra, a full-scale mock drill was jointly conducted by the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) and the Uttarakhand State Disaster Management Authority (USDMA) on Thursday. The exercise was carried out at the State Emergency Operation Centre (SEOC) and across all seven districts involved in the annual pilgrimage. The drill covered the core Char Dham districts — Uttarkashi, Chamoli and Rudraprayag — along with key transit districts, including Dehradun, Haridwar, Pauri and Tehri. It tested the ground-level readiness of various departments operating under the Incident Response System (IRS). Vinod Kumar Suman, secretary of the state disaster management department, emphasised that the exercise, conducted in close coordination with the NDMA, was meant to assess emergency response capabilities and inter-departmental collaboration. "We achieved significant success in coordination, and where shortcomings were identified, relevant departments were directed to address them before the yatra begins," he said. The operations were led by NDMA principal advisor Major General Sudhir Bahl (retd), who issued a series of recommendations during the post-drill debriefing. He advised integrating police and tourism control rooms with the SEOC for broader monitoring. He also called for the widespread promotion of the Char Dham Yatra mobile app to deliver timely weather alerts, traffic updates, landslide warnings and alternate route guidance. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like News For Jack Nicholson, 87, He Has Been Confirmed To Be... Reportingly Undo Key suggestions included installing mandatory signage in danger zones, conducting fire safety audits for hotels and lodges, deploying earth-moving equipment near landslide-prone areas and setting up communication systems in no-network zones. He also recommended enhanced health facilities for helicopter pilgrims vulnerable to high-altitude sickness, and the establishment of standard operating procedures (SOPs) for helipad safety. The NDMA also praised the efforts in Badrinath, particularly the crowd management measures implemented by Chamoli district magistrate Sandeep Tiwari. These included improved matting, reinforced railings, benches for elderly pilgrims and additional toilet facilities.
