By Arun Pratap Singh
Dehradun, 24 Apr: Ahead of the commencement of the Char Dham Yatra, the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) and the Uttarakhand State Disaster Management Authority (USDMA) today conducted a comprehensive mock drill across four districts of Garhwal. The exercise was aimed at testing preparedness for various emergency scenarios that may arise during the pilgrimage season. Interestingly, many serious accidents and disasters were simulated during the mock drill, and these included crash of a helicopter in Kedarnath, earthquake in Badrinath, bus accident in Chamoli, cloudburst in Uttarkashi and stampede at Har Ki Pauri in Haridwar.
To assess the ground reality of disaster management readiness, NDMA and USDMA jointly simulated multiple incidents occurring simultaneously across Uttarakhand. Officials closely monitored the proceedings from the State Emergency Centre, Uttarakhand.
One of the key scenarios was staged at Pagal Nala, a major landslide-prone area in Chamoli district, where a mock landslide disrupted highway traffic, leaving numerous pilgrims stranded. A coordinated drill was carried out to evacuate the stranded travellers safely and arrange food and water supplies for them.
Another critical simulation took place in Badrinath, where an earthquake measuring 6.4 on the Richter scale was staged at 11:18 a.m. The mock drill tested responses to the panic that could arise among the large gathering of devotees, as well as the heightened risk of landslides caused by the earthquake amidst heavy rainfall and inclement weather. The authorities rehearsed crowd management strategies to prevent stampedes.
In addition, a mock drill was conducted for a bus accident scenario in Chamoli district, where a vehicle carrying pilgrims to Badrinath Dham ‘plunged’ 400 feet into a gorge near Kameda Gauchar, partially submerging in the Alaknanda River. Rescue operations were simulated to rescue passengers from the submerged vehicle.
In Uttarkashi district, a cloudburst scenario was staged in Pali Garden, a small settlement on the Yamunotri National Highway. The mock drill focused on flood mitigation efforts, as ‘rapidly rising floodwaters blocked the highway’, leaving approximately 800 pilgrims stranded.
Rudraprayag district witnessed the enactment of a helicopter crash en-route from Phata to Kedarnath, with authorities testing their emergency response measures for such an event.
At the transit camp in Rishikesh, a massive fire outbreak scenario was staged, engulfing three temporary hostel tents and a portion of the community kitchen. Mock drills were held to evaluate fire control measures and evacuation procedures, given the risks posed by highly flammable materials and strong morning winds.
Haridwar saw a mock ‘stampede’ at Har Ki Pauri during a special bathing ritual, where a large crowd rushed in panic, resulting in 15 to 20 pilgrims, including women and children, being swept away by strong currents. Response teams rehearsed rescue operations and crowd control strategies.
Apart from these exercises, similar disaster simulations were conducted in Tehri and Pauri Garhwal districts. The drills not only tested the preparedness of various departments but also facilitated the identification of shortcomings, ensuring improvements were made to minimise loss of life and property in the event of real disasters.
Lack of Coordination seen during mock drill in Haridwar
By Our Staff Reporter
Haridwar, 24 Apr: With only six days remaining for the commencement of the Char Dham Yatra 2025, preparations are in their final stages. While efforts are underway to ensure smooth arrangements for the pilgrimage, mock drills were conducted today across the state to assess readiness for natural disasters. However, signs of inadequate coordination surfaced during the drills in Haridwar.
The mock drill was conducted today to simulate emergency scenarios during the Yatra under the aegis of the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) and the Uttarakhand State Disaster Management Authority (USDMA). In most places, the mock drill was conducted in a smooth manner but some lack of coordination was seen between different agencies during the mock drill in Haridwar where the drill simulated incidents such as drowning near Har Ki Pauri and injuries resulting from a stampede. Personnel from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and the Water Police led the response efforts.
While the prompt actions of NDRF, Water Police, NCC cadets, and students of Rishikul Ayurvedic College helped save several lives during the simulation, lapses were observed in the coordination of the health department’s ambulance team. In a hurried response, an ambulance was dispatched to the wrong ghat, exposing critical gaps in preparedness.
Fortunately, since this was a mock drill, as no actual emergency occurred, there was ample time for correction. However, had it been a real-life crisis, the repercussions of such missteps could have been serious. When questioned regarding this lapse, Nodal Officer and SDM Bhagwanpur Jitendra Kumar stated that the exercise would be thoroughly assessed to identify and rectify shortcomings.
Kumar remarked that mock drills are conducted annually ahead of the Char Dham Yatra to test the readiness of disaster response teams. These exercises offer valuable learning opportunities and enable authorities to refine their strategies for handling emergencies. Any deficiencies observed in the current drill will be addressed through updated guidelines and improved coordination mechanisms.
