In view of a spate of low- intensity earthquakes that rattled Uttarakhand recently, the disaster management and rehabilitation department of the Uttarakhand government will conduct mock exercises in association with the National Disaster Management Authority, Government of India, in Garhwal division on Tuesday and in Kumaon division on Wednesday. The state chief secretary S Ramaswamy informed this on Monday while presiding over a video conferencing with the district officers and other senior officers of various departments. He directed the officers to conduct mock exercise on the norms of accident response system.
He said that considering the seismic vulnerability of Uttarakhand and recent earthquakes being reported from various parts of the state, it has become necessary to conduct earthquake- based mock exercises at regular intervals to mitigate the earthquake-triggered damages and human and other casualties in the state.
Among those present at the meeting were senior advisor, National Disaster Management Authority, Government of India Major General VK Dutta, General VK Nayak, principal secretary irrigation, secretary disaster management, secretary home and information, secretary in-charge Public Works Department and senior police officers.
Dutta stressed on orientation workshop, co-ordination meeting, table- top exercise and ground work of mock exercise while dwelling on the features of the state and district level disaster management plans. He also talked about the utilities of monitoring cell, rescue and relief equipment, satellite phone and Ham Radio to cope with the natural calamities like earthquakes.
He stressed on development of coordination among the various wings of army, paramilitary forces, Indo-Tibetan Border Police Force (ITBP), Border Roads Organisation (BRO), self- help groups and other departments for a fast response to the disasters.
Dutta also talked about role of print media and electronic media aside from the community radio while affirming that these mediums should feature in the government’s plans. He also talked about importance of separate radio band and drone facilities, medical and medicine facilities to take on the emergencies.
Acting on the direction of the chief secretary, Dehradun district magistrate Ravinath Raman has asked all the district officers to take requisite steps to ensure successful earthquake/disaster mock exercises starting on Tuesday. He also asked the people not to panic over the presence of the army, paramilitary forces, police and other administrative officers in their areas during the mock exercise. “It being a mere mock exercise, the people should carry on with their usual works,” he added.