Statewide Nagaland Emergency Preparedness Exercise (NEPEx), a mega mock exercise on earthquake, was carried out by Nagaland Disaster Management Authority (NSDMA) in collaboration with the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) on Thursday morning.
Kohima: The mock drill for Kohima district was held at five locations– GMS School, Bayavü, Directorate of Industries and Commerce, Miachieo Lhithochii High School, Sanuorü bridge, and NHAK. The exercise aimed at assessing and improving preparedness for potential earthquake-related emergencies.
Later, addressing the media at the Capital Convention Centre, Kohima, NSDMA adviser Z Nyusietho Nyuthe thanked all the participants and stake holders for the successful conduct of the mock drill.
He said the mock drill was conducted at 9:45:05 am to analyse the preparedness of the state vis-à-vis earthquake of magnitude 6.9 on Richter scale with epicentre near Changtongya town in Mokokchung district, adding that this was way of testing preparedness in case of any such eventuality.
NDMA lead consultant Maj Gen (retd) Sudhir Bahl said that the exercise was conducted in a highly professional manner with enthusiastic participation from everyone, all driven by a strong desire to improve.
He said the mock drill was successful due to the hard work of all stakeholders. However, he stressed improvement in certain areas, particularly in integrating community responses and developing coordinated municipal and military disaster management plans. He averred that this would ensure institutional continuity, allowing trained individuals to enhance their skills, rather than relying on key officers each time.
He pointed out the necessity for better awareness of the capabilities and resources available from various agencies, particularly the armed forces. He remarked that regular conferences for civil engineers focusing on disaster response would be beneficial.
Calling for improved planning and coordination among all departments, especially regarding enhancing medical capacity for major disasters, Bahl emphasised that the Health Department must develop clear plans for augmenting resources effectively. Additionally, at the state-level, he said there was a requirement for a well-defined perspective plan to gradually enhance capabilities.
NSDMA joint chief executive officer (CEO) Johnny Raungmei observed that coordination efforts had significantly improved. Acknowledging challenges with communication, particularly regarding road and telecom systems, he said difficulties were faced due to the prevailing weather conditions, preventing communication with Mokokchung.
However, he claimed they had learnt about different stakeholders and their contributions to society. He maintained that this was a valuable learning process, as the state prepared for potential disasters, with the experiences and exercises helping the agencies identify areas that needed addressing.
He said a magnitude of 6 on Richter scale was simulated after analysing such occurrences in neighbouring states. He stressed that it was crucial to revisit the issue of public irresponsibility during such situations.
Besides the armed forces and Assam Rifles, the joint CEO mentioned that roles of several line departments, including PWD, Telecom, Urban Development, NDRF, and Fire, were crucial in disaster management.
He disclosed that a review meeting would be held to discuss these challenges while moving forward.
DIMAPUR: Meanwhile, the District Disaster Management Authority (DDMA) of Dimapur, in collaboration with the NSDMA, also conducted a comprehensive earthquake disaster mock drill across seven strategic locations in Dimapur on Thursday.
The event commenced with a briefing by ADC Dimapur and incident commander of DDMA Zakabo V Rotokha at the DC’s Conference Hall. The drill involved coordinated efforts from various government departments, schools, and colleges, with participants simulating disaster response operations in real-time scenarios.
Key locations included Dimapur Government College, Pantaloons shopping complex , GHSS Lingrijan School, Forest Residential Area, Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) Limited’s Dimapur Depot, Primary Health Centre (PHC), Duncan, and DC Office. Each site staged specific disaster scenarios, including fires, building collapses, and rescues, to test the district’s emergency response capabilities.
Among the drills, the mock scenario at the Dimapur Government College involved a fire and partial building collapse, Pantaloons shopping complex witnessed simulated structural damage and a fire. Heavy traffic congestion added to the challenges faced by first responders.
The drill concluded with the ADC expressing gratitude to all participants, emphasising the importance of such exercises in refining the district’s disaster preparedness and response strategies. The event provided valuable insights into the effectiveness of the current emergency protocols and highlighted areas for improvement.
During the Fire department’s demonstration at the IOC Dimapur Depot, a concerning issue arose when the water pipes became jammed, blocking the flow for several minutes. The fire was eventually extinguished using fire extinguishers, raising concerns about the potential impact during an actual emergency.