Mock drill on earthquake preparedness held
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, October 14 2024: Imphal West district administration, in collaboration with 12th battalion National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), conducted a mock drill on earthquake preparedness at the Imphal West DC office complex, on Monday as part of the 2024 familiarisation exercise aimed at testing and enhancing the district's disaster preparedness and response capabilities.

According to a press statement issued by Imphal West ADC, the simulated scenario involved a hypothetical earthquake of 7.2 magnitude on the Richter scale, which supposedly struck Imphal valley at 9 am with epicentre at Lamphel.

As part of the exercise, a portion of a building in the DC office complex was depicted as partially collapsed, with five victims trapped� three on the ground floor and two on the roof.

Upon receiving the report from the State Emergency Operations Centre (SEOC), the NDRF team, supported by local authorities, promptly launched a coordinated rescue operation.

The participants included NDRF personnel leading the rescue with specialised equipment, DC office staffers, Red Cross Society members, fire service personnel, Imphal West police, and district's medical team.

The primary objectives of the exercise were to test the readiness of all agencies involved in disaster management, evaluate response speed and inter-agency coordination, and ensure public preparedness for natural disasters.

The mock drill allowed all participants to engage in real-time problem-solving and communication under simulated crisis conditions.

ADC Shamim Ahmad Shah, who oversaw the drill, emphasised the importance of such exercises in ensuring the district's preparedness for emergencies.

He commended the NDRF and supporting agencies for their professionalism and effective response during the drill.

The mock drill was part of ongoing efforts by the Imphal West district administration to raise awareness about disaster preparedness and ensure the safety of residents in the event of a natural disaster, the statement added.

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