SHILLONG: The Revenue and Disaster Management Department, in coordination with the Meghalaya State Disaster Management Authority (MSDMA) and District Disaster Management Authorities (DDMAs), on Monday conducted a statewide earthquake preparedness exercise as part of a multi-state mock drill led by the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), Ministry of Home Affairs.
The exercise was conducted simultaneously across Meghalaya, Arunachal Pradesh, and Mizoram with the objective of assessing institutional preparedness, inter-agency coordination, and emergency response systems at both state and district levels.
The drill commenced with the sounding of sirens at the State Emergency Operation Centre (SEOC) and District Emergency Operation Centres (DEOCs), simulating an earthquake scenario. Participants immediately followed the standard “Drop, Cover and Hold” safety protocol, after which evacuation procedures were carried out and rapid assessments of structural damage were undertaken.
As part of the simulated response, authorities transitioned to radio and satellite-based communication systems, mobilised Emergency Support Function (ESF) Quick Response Teams, deployed UAVs for aerial reconnaissance, and carried out digital mapping of simulated damage and response activities. SEOC operations were reinforced, while live situational updates were transmitted from districts to ensure seamless, real-time coordination among the SEOC, DEOCs, and Incident Response Teams (IRTs).
Maj. Gen. Sudhir Bahl (Retd.), Lead Consultant (Monitoring & Evaluation and Incident Response System), NDMA, New Delhi, conducted field inspections to review preparedness measures on the ground. The inspection team visited the staging area at Seng Khasi Secondary School, Marbisu, assessed facilities at the medical aid post in Mawngap Market, and inspected the landslide simulation site to evaluate operational readiness and response efficiency.
Commissioner and Secretary, Revenue and Disaster Management Department, Matsiewdor War Nongbri highlighted key lessons learned from previous exercises and stressed the need for continuous strengthening of response mechanisms. She noted that while crises such as the COVID-19 pandemic had tested institutional capacities, a major earthquake would require a far more immediate and robust response.
“We are in a very precarious zone, and we need to be ready with responses at the right time and in an efficient manner,” she said.
Addressing the debriefing session, Maj. Gen. Sudhir Bahl (Retd.) stated that the primary objective of the mock exercise was to ensure that appropriate procedures and processes are in place so that resources reach the right locations at the right time, based on priority. He also emphasised the importance of leveraging information technology for systematic documentation and archiving. Commending the overall conduct of the exercise, he praised the SDMA, DDMAs, participating State and Central Government departments, the NDRF, armed forces, and other stakeholders for their active participation and coordination.
