A mock exercise of the disaster response system for earthquake was conducted in Chamoli, Uttarkashi, Pithoragarh and Bageshwar with Capital Dehradun as the centre on Thursday.
Observers point out that though the mock exercise conducted by the State authorities with the assistance of the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) on Friday was of some use, it also displayed the State's failure to learn from the June 2013 disaster wherein lapses in timely communication of correct information had exacerbated the damage in various ways.
In the State Capital, a staging area was set up on the Parade Ground to facilitate necessary response for the four districts involved in the mock exercise. Officials and personnel of the army, National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), ITBP, SDRF, Home Guards, police, PAC with teams of nodal departments participated in the exercise on the Parade Ground.
At about 9:30 am on Thursday, a hypothetical earthquake measuring 7.2 on the Richter scale with its centre in Bageshwar district was reported. Officials of district administration and various other departments and uniformed forces then undertook logistical activities on Parade Ground with a helicopter also being used for rescuing 'victims' in need of medical attention. The authorities reported the hypothetical destruction that included total of 383 dead, 143 seriously injured, 1,261 with minor injury, 600 damaged homes and three cattle deaths.
The scenario reported from Pithoragarh was dozens of deaths, hundreds injured and road, power and communication services completely affected with GIC Kanda, Pithoragarh Bazaar, CDO office and district hospital also suffering damage.
Similarly, reports of various damage to government buildings, infrastructure and homes apart from human and cattle deaths were reported from Chamoli which also saw four 'injured' persons rescued by chopper. The damage report from Uttarkashi was communicated by satellite phone with data on structural damage, recovery of 133 bodies, damaged infrastructure and ration drop using helicopter.
The mock exercise based on incident response system (IRS) had one responsible officer (RO) in each of the 'affected' districts, one incident commander (IC), three other officers- planning-in-charge, logistics-in-charge and operation-in-charge and the other staff concerned were involved in the exercise.
The main purpose of the mock exercise was to have knowledge of the disaster management plan, taking necessary actions as per the plan, identifying shortcomings in the plan for correction in the future and to prepare for how to ensure timely reporting in a disaster scenario.
Observers point out that the mock exercise ignored the need for ensuring communication of reliable information to the public for preventing further damage, spreading of rumours and damage due to citizens not receiving vital guidance in time post-disaster as seen during the aftermath of the June 2013 disaster.