Nagaland State Disaster Management Authority (NSDMA) under the state home department in collaboration with National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) conducted Nagaland Emergency Preparedness Exercise (NEPEx), a statewide mega mock exercise, on Thursday.
According to an official bulletin, the state home commissioner Abhijit Sinha and chief observer and senior consultant NDMA, Sudhir Bahl, along with officials from NSDMA and other relevant departments held a debriefing session with district officials and later conducted a press conference at the State Emergency Operations Centre, Kezieke, Kohima.
The debriefing, conducted through video conference, included deputy commissioners and officials from six districts—Zunheboto, Dimapur, Chümoukedima, Kohima, Tuensang, and Peren. During the debriefing, district officials shared their experiences, including insights into injuries, casualties, and the execution of the mock drill.
The officials also highlighted shortcomings such as communication issues, delayed responses, the need for improved logistics, and poor radio communication.
District officials acknowledged that stakeholders effectively contributed to the success of exercise. They recommended a stronger focus on communication and the placement of volunteers while emphasizing the importance of relief camps alongside operational centres.
Home commissioner Abhijit Sinha stated that the aim of the exercise was to assess the state’s preparedness and identify areas for improvement. Stating that this year’s exercise was more successful than the previous one, Sinha emphasized on the continuous learning process particularly in reorienting the communication system.
He disclosed that the state government plans to build a state-of-the-art building for disaster management at Thizama in Kohima.
Highlighting NDMA’s commitment to improving disaster preparedness, NDMA chief observer Sudhir stressed the need for a pragmatic approach to earthquake scenarios and the importance of preparedness being a 24/7 effort. He discussed the central role of the Emergency Operations Centre (EOC), the need for automatic response mechanisms, and coordination among responders.
The chief observer also stressed the importance of regular mock exercises, proper disaster management plans for hospitals, and search and rescue plans.
Sudhir acknowledged the state agencies’ keen interest in the exercise and underscored the continuous pursuit of improvement, especially in communication, community engagement, school safety, and inclusivity for various groups, including school children, the elderly, and differently-abled individuals.
NEPEx at Secretariat Plaza: Nagaland Emergency Preparedness Exercise (NEPEx) was held at Secretariat Plaza, Kohima on Thursday.
The mock drill began by sounding of siren bell at 9.03am from PHQ and IPR directorate with a scenario of earthquake magnitude of 7.1 Richter scale.
Various departments reported with their resources and equipment at the staging area in secretariat plaza which was managed by the deputy incident commander, commissioner & secretary NSDMA, Lhouchalie Viya.
Various departments participated in the main staging area with their resources including PHE, Fire & Emergency Services, AH & Veterinary Services, Economic & Statistics, Power, Health & Family Welfare, Fisheries & Aquatic Resources, Police Department, IPR, Planning, Nagaland Public Work Department, Central Reserve Police Force, NSDMA, Social Welfare and Assam Rifles.