Nagaland State Disaster Management Authority (NSDMA) conducted the Nagaland Emergency Preparedness Exercise (NEPEx), an annual state-wide mega mock exercise on Thursday. The mega mock drill was carried out as per the directive of NDMA to test the capability of the State to respond and manage any mega disaster.
The exercise was conducted on an earthquake scenario with a magnitude of 7.1 on the Richter Scale. The exercise commenced with the sounding of siren bell at 9:30 a.m. from the Police Headquarters (PHQ) Kohima. According to DIPR reports, mock drills were conducted by District Disaster Management Authority (DDMA) as per the Incident Response System (IRS) of the respective districts.
Dimapur
In Dimapur, the mega mock exercise commenced with the sounding of siren from the Emergency Operations Centre (EOC), located at the Conference Hall of Deputy Commissioner (DC) Dimapur office. The exercise was conducted at Forest Department Residential Block, Government Middle (Lotha) School, Duncan, Government High School, Sarbura, Dimapur Government College, Dimapur and Pantaloons, Dimapur with Dimapur District Sports Council (DDSC) Stadium as the staging area.
Briefing the gathering after the exercise, DC and chairman DDMA Dimapur, Dr. Tinojongshi Chang said such mock exercises were essential to prepare for any calamity as Nagaland lies in Seismic Zone V, a very high damage risk zone.
Sensing the importance of sensitising people at the grass-root level, Chnag said the Dimapur DDMA have been imparting awareness and necessary trainings to equip the people in case of any eventuality.
The mock exercise was overseen by DDMA team comprising of Dimapur district administration, the medical department and Fire and Emergency Services (F&ES).
Wokha
Wokha district conducted mock exercise at District Hospital (DMMDH), Government Higher Secondary School, Mt. Tiyi College, Police Point (Humri Bakery) and Daily Market. Exercises on duck-cover-hold, damage assessment & reporting and fire-fighting/damage control, mobilization of response- evacuation, SAR, CASEVAC, seeking and deployment of additional resources and restoration activities were conducted.
The mock search and rescue operation was done for 52 casualties due to earthquake disaster. During the debriefing, Deputy Commissioner (DC) Wokha, Ajit Kumar Ranjan, who is also District Responsible Officer (RO), said the shortcomings, if any, identified during exercise would be rectified at the earlier to meet the challenges in times of disaster.
Kohima
In Kohima, five locations were designated as the incident sites which included Kohima Trade Centre, BOC Kohima, Circuit House (one residential house) New Ministers’ Hill, Government Middle School, Middle PWD colony, Khedi Higher Secondary School, Kohima Village and Kohima Arts College.
During the exercise building collapsed and fire incidents were created where a total number of 25 casualties including two dead, seven seriously injured, ten with minor injuries and six with mild injuries were staged by the students and public at the sites.
The participants were briefed by Deputy Commissioner (DC) Kohima, Kumar Ramnikant, and observer, assistant commandant, 78 Bn CRPF, Zubza, Khriezovo Zutso. Apart from the district observers, NDMA Coordinator, Major General Sudhir Bhal (Retd) Sr. Consultant (MF & IRS) NDMA, MHA GoI and State Observer Group Captain, Abhijit Wyas, IAF (Easter Command Shillong) visited the district staging area staged at Government Higher Secondary School, Rüzhükhrie ground and interacted with the incident commander and section chiefs of operation, planning and logistic while in NHAK to get first hand information on how the medical team are taking stock of the situation.
District Administration along with Government Officials from various departments, NDRF, SDRF, Police, Power, Medical, Fire & Emergency Services with its various machineries and Kohima Village Youth Organization (KVYO) and others stakeholders took active part in the mock activities for the successful conduct of the exercise.
Mokokchung
In Mokokchung, the staging area was set up at Imkongmeren Sports Complex with places of occurrences at Government High School Dilong, Model Higher Secondary School, MMC Complex, Jubilee Memorial College and Vidi Vici Building. The simulating scenario in the incident area was collapse structure search and rescue, fire incident, search and high-rise rescue and road clearance.
Rescue personnel and volunteers during the exercise were National Cadet Corps (NCC), Bharat Scout and Guides, Home Guards, Fire and Emergency Services (F&ES) team, SDRF, medical team, PWD (R&B), personnel from the police department including traffic and wireless and DPRO team.
The mock exercise concluded with remarks by the deputy commissioner Mokokchung.
Peren
A mega mock exercise was conducted at Peren under the supervision of DDMA Peren. The staging area was set up at Peren Town Local Ground, while Peren Government College, Government Higher Secondary School, Hangsile Residential, Additional Deputy Commissioner (ADC) Office and Peren Town Daily Market were designated as the incident sites. During the mock exercise, a scenario of two deaths, ten injured were reported and all the injured were given medical attention by the unit of medical teams. The exercise concluded with a debriefing from Responsible Officer (DC Peren), section chiefs and observers.
Niuland
Niuland DDMA in collaboration with the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) team conducted a mock drill at Niuland Town.
The mock drill was conducted assuming the scenario of an earthquake along with extreme weather condition striking Niuland at 9 a.m. causing havoc at two incident sites namely Shepherd High School and Deputy Commissioner (DC) Niuland Office. While culminating the event, DC Niuland, Sara S Jamir debriefed the members and acknowledged the professionalism displayed by the personals involved in the mock drill.
Shamator
The mock exercise in Shamator was held at Community Health Centre (CHC) Shamator, Government Higher Secondary School Shamator and various other parts of the town. The district administration, heads of departments and Assam Rifles along with NDRF Nagaland took part in the exercise. National Cadet Corps (NCC) cadets of Shamator College volunteered to enact the mock drill.
Chümoukedima
In Chümoukedima district, the mock exercise was held at Government Higher Secondary School, Cosmopolitan School, Mt. Mary College, Koutsu Market Complex, Chümoukedima, respectively with Chümoukedima Town Council ground as the main staging area. Later, Deputy Commissioner (DC) and chairman DDMA Chümoukedima, Abhinav Shivam, who headed the entire exercise, took a review of the mock exercise at CTC Hall. He said that these mock exercises are the investment made for the effective and timely response to the future disaster. He urged all the stakeholders to be ready and use the knowledge gained through the mock exercise to the best of their abilities, should any disaster take place.
Tuensang
DDMA Tuensang conducted the mock exercise with Parade Ground as the staging area and medical relief camp at Indoor Stadium. The incident sites were at First Nallah, BOC, PWD Office, Old DC office and Officer ward Daily Market.
In the briefing session, SP Tuensang, Kanchan Kumar Kandpal underscored the importance of mental preparation and also asked the participants to note any shortcomings during the mock exercise so that they were well prepared for any eventuality. The Mock Drill was participated by district administration, SDRF, fire and emergency, PWD, DEF Tuensang, medical department, DPRO and students from GHSS Tuensang.
Phek
Mega mock drill exercise was conducted at Phek headquarters with home guards, headed by district commandant HG & CD as the operational section chief of the mock exercise, and officer i/c of Fire & Emergency Services Phek as strike team/task force leader of mock exercise. After completing the exercise, DC and chairman DDMA Phek, Roupfukuotuo Noudi briefed the gathering on the course of operation and action taken by all responsible officials during the entire exercise.
Kiphire
A mega mock drill organised by DDMA Kiphire at Kiphire Town commenced with sounding of siren at Fire & Emergency Services station, DPRO office and the public ground. Four places namely Daily Market Area, Cambridge High School, Water Resources Department Office and one private building were the incident sites.
Zunheboto
The mega mock exercise was carried out at four locations in and around Zunheboto Town by State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), Fire and Emergency Services (F&ES), Police, Chief Medical Officer (CMO) office and district administration.
Noklak
DDMA Noklak conducted a mega mock exercise with sounding of siren at Public Ground, Noklak. During the exercise, four locations namely VG Office, Christian High School, KSU Office and Bazaar Noklak town were identified as incident areas while staging area was set up at Public Ground and DEOC at DC Conference Hall, Noklak. 20 students of Christian High School Noklak participated as volunteers during the mock exercise.
Longleng
DDMA Longleng conducted mock drill exercise at Public Ground Longleng with active participation from the government departments and agencies. After the mock drill exercise, review meeting comprised of incidents commanders was held at the public ground Longleng.
Tseminyu
The mock drill organised by the DDMA Tseminyu began with the sounding of siren at 9 a.m. from Deputy Commissioner (DC) Tseminyu office. Four staging areas were assigned namely Baptist Higher Secondary School, Town Market Area, SDEO and EE (PWD) office. Before the mock drill exercise, DC & DDMA, Rohit Singh briefed the participants.