Mizoram conducts statewide earthquake mock drill to test emergency response

Aizawl: A statewide mock exercise on earthquakes was conducted on Thursday across all districts of Mizoram to test emergency response, relief operations, and enhance public safety mechanisms, officials said.

The objective of the exercise, conducted by the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) in collaboration with the state Disaster Management and Rehabilitation (DM&R) department, was to ensure a well-managed and prompt response to civilians in the event of an earthquake, they added.

Mock scenarios involving building collapses, fire outbreaks, and various casualties caused by an earthquake were staged at 36 locations across the state, officials said.

The exercise commenced at 10:00 am with sirens sounding from deputy commissioner offices, they said.

District Quick Response Forces, Fire and Emergency Services, National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), Central Industrial Security Force (CISF), Assam Rifles, Border Security Force (BSF), medical teams, NGOs, and local volunteers participated in the exercise, officials added.

Additionally, state disaster response forces from neighbouring Assam and Tripura took part in the mock drill in Kolasib and Mamit, they said.

Various line departments, including Public Health Engineering (PHE), Public Works Department (PWD), Power and Electricity (P&E), Transport, and Information and Public Relations, also participated in simulating rescue and relief operations amidst collapsed buildings, fires, road blockages, and communication failures, officials noted.

Operations at incident sites, staging areas, and relief camps were monitored via video conferencing at District Emergency Operation Centres, while senior NDMA consultant Brig. Ravinder Gurung (Retd.) monitored the drill from the State Emergency Operation Centre in Aizawl, they said.

Gurung was accompanied by state observers and former state DM&R principal secretary PC Lallawmsanga, and former DM&R director Dominic Lalhmangaiha.

The Centre also deployed four observers to oversee and monitor the mock exercises.

In Aizawl, Lok Bhavan was designated as a relief camp, while Lammual (formerly AR ground) was used as a staging area, officials said.

Officials from NDMA and state DM&R also visited the relief camps during the exercise.

The statewide mock drill resumed at 5 pm to test the efficiency of rescue and relief operations under low-light conditions, according to officials.