Mock drill to check quake preparedness in state

Tribune News Service
Shimla, July 11

The Himachal Pradesh State Disaster Management Authority (HPSDMA) with the support of the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) today conducted a mega mock exercise on earthquake in which all 12 districts participated. The scenario was that an earthquake of 8 magnitude occurred at night time with its epicentre at Sundernagar in Mandi district.

Principal Secretary Revenue and Disaster Management Onkar Sharma said that earthquake was chosen for the scenario as it was main threat for the state. The state falls under seismic Zones IV & V. He said scenario was developed with technical support of the NDMA, IIT-Mumbai and Madras.

The exercise began at 8.30 am and the State and District Emergency Operation Centres (EOCs) were immediately activated and members of Incident Response Teams (IRT) reached the respective EOCs.

Sharma said 112 incident sites were given to districts and more than 2,650 officers along with 833 volunteers from 32 NGOs participated. As many as 836 wireless sets and 62 I-SAT phones were used during the exercise as it was assumed that the landline and mobile phones were disrupted due to earthquake.

He said various activities like search and rescue, transportation of victims, evacuation, arrangements for relief camps, regulation of traffic, law and order, reports to the SEOC in the shape of mock messages and projection of assistance needed from state headquarter were conducted.