Mock drill conducted across U’khand to test disaster management preparedness
By Arun Pratap Singh
Garhwal Post Bureau
Dehradun, 2 Jul: With the onset of the monsoon season in Uttarakhand, the State Government has stepped up its efforts to finalise disaster management preparedness across the State. In this connection, a State-level monsoon mock drill was conducted on Thursday in all the 13 districts of Uttarakhand. Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami and Disaster Management Minister Madan Kaushik personally monitored the exercise.
During the mock drill, simulated situations such as floods, cloudbursts, heavy rainfall, landslides and road blockage were created to assess the readiness of relief and rescue operations. The CM and the Disaster Management Minister monitored the entire exercise from the State Emergency Operations Centre (SEOC) and issued necessary directions to the officials to ensure swift and coordinated action in the event of a real emergency.
The officials claimed that the government is fully aware that Uttarakhand is geographically sensitive and remains prone to natural disasters during the monsoon season. Incidents of landslides, cloudbursts and disruption of road connectivity are common in the hill districts, while floods and waterlogging pose serious challenges in the plains. Keeping these vulnerabilities in mind, the mock drill was organised today to strengthen coordination among various departments and agencies and to enhance the overall disaster response mechanism.
Teams from the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), Police Department, Health Department, Fire Services, Public Works Department, Electricity Department, Irrigation Department and district administrations jointly participated in the exercise. Different disaster scenarios were rehearsed in different districts, including evacuation of stranded persons, providing first aid to the injured, setting up relief camps and ensuring smooth communication systems.
Reviewing the mock drill, Pushkar Singh Dhami stated that response time is the most crucial factor during any disaster. He directed officials to ensure that relief and rescue operations commence immediately in any emergency and that assistance reaches affected persons in the shortest possible time. He emphasised that the Government is committed to strengthening the disaster management system by making maximum use of technology and modern resources.
He observed that the monsoon season has always been challenging for Uttarakhand and that the Meteorological Department has predicted the possibility of above-normal rainfall this year as well. Disaster Management Minister Madan Kaushik said that the primary objective of the mock drill is to further strengthen coordination among various departments. In times of disaster, multiple agencies have to work in unison, and it is essential that each department is fully aware of its roles and responsibilities. Such exercises help in identifying shortcomings and addressing them in a timely manner.
Disaster Management Secretary Vinod Kumar Suman shared that several high-level meetings had already been convened ahead of the monsoon season on the directions of the CM. District Magistrates, the police officials and the departments concerned have been issued detailed guidelines in advance. He said the mock drill is aimed at assessing real-time preparedness and evaluating how effectively and swiftly different agencies would respond in an actual disaster situation.
In recent years, Uttarakhand has witnessed significant loss of life and property due to heavy rainfall, cloudbursts and landslides. Learning from past experiences, the State Government claims to be more vigilant this time. The real test of these preparations will, however, come with actual weather conditions and incidents during the season. Nevertheless, the Government maintains that all the disaster response mechanisms have been activated and comprehensive arrangements have been put in place to ensure prompt and effective action in case of any emergency.
