Aizawl: The Mizoram State Disaster Management Authority (SDMA) and the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) jointly organized a state-wide Mock Exercise on Floods and Landslides, aimed at evaluating and enhancing the state’s preparedness for natural disasters. The exercise, which commenced at 9:30 AM, was held across 47 locations, including Aizawl, 11 district capitals, and several other disaster-prone areas.
Simulating real-life disaster scenarios involving floods, fires, and landslides, the exercise saw the active participation of District Disaster Management Authorities (DDMAs) and Incident Response System (IRS) teams. Emergency Operation Centers (DEOCs) were activated across the state to coordinate search and rescue operations at various incident sites. The State Emergency Operation Center (SEOC) in Chawnpui played a key role in overseeing the overall coordination, utilizing live streaming and telecommunication to maintain communication with Incident Commanders and response teams.
Brigadier Ravinder Gurung (Retd.), Senior Consultant with NDMA, coordinated the exercise and noted that while the drill was successful in testing disaster preparedness, it highlighted some issues in digital connectivity that need addressing. Observers like Shri PC Lallawmsanga and Shri Dominic Lalhmangaiha also monitored the exercise, ensuring its effective implementation.
Mock drills were conducted in diverse environments such as hospitals, bridges, jungles, and roads to assess the state’s response to various disaster scenarios. Relief camps and staging areas were set up in select districts to simulate real-world disaster relief operations. Despite some challenges with communication, the SEOC expressed satisfaction with the collaboration between DDMAs and IRS teams.
In Lawngtlai District, a separate mock exercise was carried out, focusing on both landslides and floods. A landslide drill took place at the Kaladan Multi-Modal Transit Transport Project (KMMTTP) Road, and a flood response drill was conducted at Bajeisora. Both drills involved the prompt execution of search and rescue operations, debris clearing, and medical aid for the injured.
Shri Cheemala Siva Gopal Reddy, IAS, Chairman of the Lawngtlai DDMA, supervised the landslide drill, where 15 individuals were rescued, and 10 received on-site treatment. The flood response drill was equally successful, with teams working in close coordination to manage the situation. Shri Reddy emphasized the district’s readiness and the importance of continually refining disaster response systems based on insights gained from the exercise.
The state-wide mock exercises serve as a crucial initiative to bolster Mizoram’s disaster management capabilities, ensuring that the state remains well-equipped to respond effectively to future natural calamities.
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