Mock drill held across Sikkim on earthquake preparedness

GANGTOK, (IPR): A simulated drill for earthquake was carried out at various locations throughout the State's six districts at 9:03 a.m. today in relation to disaster preparedness organised by Sikkim State Disaster Management Authority (SSDMA), in collaboration with the National Disaster Management Agency (NDMA).

The simulation exercise of Gangtok district began with a briefing by Gangtok DC Tushar Nikhare who was also the Responsible Officer under Incident Response System (IRS) implemented during the mock exercise. The Incident Commander for the exercise was Gangtok ADM Rohan Agawane.

Present at the exercise were the SP Gangtok, Assistant Collector, ADC (Headquarter), ADC Development, SDM Gangtok, SDM (Headquarter), CEO Education, Chief Medical Officer and team, DFO and team, NDRF, SDRF, ITBP, Army personnel and officials from various line departments.

The mock drill scenario in and around Gangtok district witnessed the collapse of Star Mall at MG Marg and a building at MG Marg adjacent to G20 insignia, a fire incident at Vajra World, a road blockage in Adampool Highway, an earthquake at the District Collectorate in Sichey, Deorali Girls Senior Secondary School, Palzor Namgyal Girls Senior Secondary School, Sir TNSS School, Mayfair Hotel in Ranipool, the NHPC, the Sneha Kinetic Power Project Limited, the Madhya Bharat Power Project Limited, Gas Leak at Sun Pharma and Glacial Lake Outburst Flooding (GLOF) at Goshkhan dara, Singtam.

Officials from NDMA and ITBP also inspected the sites for review and understanding as observers.

Furthermore, the exercise aimed to aid the State Government in assessing the effectiveness of State’s disaster management plans and identify any shortcomings in resources, communication and system.

The mock drills in all six districts was conducted successfully in the presence of Land Revenue & Disaster Management minister Kunga Nima Lepcha along with the chief secretary VB Pathak, present in the control room, SSDMA at the Tashiling Secretariat complex.

The entire exercise was monitored and overseen by Maj. Gen. Sudhir Bahl (Retd), Sr. Conslt (ME & IRS), a member of the National Disaster Management Authority along with officials from NDMA and NDRF.

The mock exercise began with the briefing Maj. Gen. Sudhir Bahl (Retd) at the State control room, in the presence of Relief Commissioner Anil Raj Rai and senior officers of the State government and concerned agencies.

The briefing session was joined virtually by all the district collectors.

As the day progressed, the NDMA member, along with senior officers of the NDMA and the State government visited the locations where the mock drill was being performed.

At the end of the mock drill, a debriefing session was held at the State Control Room which was chaired by the NDMA member. A brief report of the relief exercise was made by the State Relief Commissioner, while the report of rescue and relief operations in the districts was made by the respective district collectors.

During the debriefing session, the Observers designated in each district presented their observations regarding the mock drill and the relief and rescue operations conducted under the leadership of the district collectors.

After the debriefing session, a media briefing of the mock drill at the State and district level was made by the Information and Media Officer from IPR department, Sonam Chopel.

The basic objective of the mock drill was to review the emergency preparedness plan of the respective allied departments and evaluate the quality of the standard operating procedure, involving all the stakeholders so that concerned persons would deliver their duties effectively, thereby ensuring the safety of life and property.