Mock exercises on earthquake, disaster management held
Source: Chronicle News Service / DIPR

Imphal, April 21 2022: Relief and Disaster Management minister Awangbow Newmai on Thursday launched State Level Exercise on Earthquake Disaster FY-2022-2023 at a programme held at Hapta Kangjeibung.

The programme was organised by department of Relief & Disaster Management/State Disaster Management Authority (SDMA) in collaboration with National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA).

Addressing the gathering as chief guest Awangbow appreciated the steps taken up by NDMA in extending its responsibility to enlighten and educate the people in disaster management.

Noting that people have not much knowledge of dealing with natural disasters, the minister hoped that the mock exercise will create awareness among the people and state disaster management team as a whole.

He also stressed the need to conduct such exercises in all the districts.

The minister also mentioned that youth of Manipur have high potential and can be empowered and trained for disaster management to minimise damages in the event of disasters.

In his address, Relief & Disaster Management additional chief secretary MH Khan said that the training of the stakeholders will enhance quick response and role of the concerned departments in time of any disaster.

The mock exercise will increase awareness and alertness to the people of the state in handling situations when unforeseen disaster occurs in future, he added.

NDMA senior consultant (retired) Major General Sudhir Bahl explained that disaster management is like preparing for war, never knowing when it will happen.

Stating that it is the responsibility of the government and everyone to be ready to combat any natural disaster, Bahl maintained that basic purpose of mock exercise is to train all stakeholders at state and centre level in combating unseen natural calamity.

He further said NDMA has shared its readiness and preparedness for disaster management by conducting mock exercise and is also ready to fund for various projects for mitigation of disasters in the state.

He also assured to look into some projects in relation to landslide which will be sponsored by NDMA for the state.

An earthquake scenario of Magnitude 7.2 that took place about 30 kms north of Imphal near Noney village has been selected for Thursday's mock exercises, which were also conducted in Imphal East, Imphal West, Thoubal and Bishnupur districts.

National Disaster Response Force also conducted mock exercise at JNIMS Hospital, DC Office Imphal East and CIPET Takyelpat in Imphal West.

State Disaster Response Force conducted the same exercise at Imphal West DC office, while Manipur Fire Service conducted mock exercise at Kusum Oil Pump, Konung Mamang, Imphal East and at NRI, Oil Pump, Uripok, Imphal West.

The flag-off programme was attended by State Disaster Management vice chairman Yanglet Haokip, NDRF, State SDRF, Fire and Emergency Services, Transport Department, Medical department, Electricity Department, Chemical Biological Radiol ogist & Nuclear experts and stakeholders among others.

The state-level mock exercise on Earthquake and Disaster FY 2022-23 was also carried out at JNIMS in the presence of director Prof L Deben, MS Dr Kh Lokeshwar and other top officials of JNIMS along with NDRF, SDRF, central paramilitary and NCC volunteers.

Meanwhile, Bishnupur district administration along with department of Relief and Disaster Management and State Disaster Management Authority organised a Mock Exercise on Earthquake Disaster Management in coordination with National Disaster Management Authority.

The mock exercise was conducted at the Panchayat Resource Centre Bishnupur, Mini Secretariat (DC Office) Building and Bitei Gasoline Centre (Oil Pump) to check the preparedness for disaster management and to create awareness on how to respond immediately at the time of disaster.

In the drill fire tender, ambulance with medical team, excavator and water tanker were utilised as volunteers from NYK Bishnupur and NDRF demonstrated different strategies including fire management, victim evacuation, rescue teams coordination, administration of first aid to victims.

Bishnupur ADM H Bobby Sharma, Moirang BDO Rishikanta Loitongbam, NYK district coordinator Dr S Dhanachandra, volunteers of NYK Bishnupur, members of Incident Response Team (IRT) Bishnupur, official of CMO, PWD and PHED participated in the mock drill conducted with 32 Battalion CRPF, Loktak Project's second in-command Ritesh Thakur as an observer.

Thoubal district administration also organised a Mock Exercise on Earthquake Disaster at Mini Secretariat Complex Thoubal and NRL Oil Pump.

The mock drill was jointly conducted by personnel of SDRF, Police, Fire service, medical department and volunteers of NYK in the presence of Thoubal DC A Subhas Singh, SP Jogesh-chandra Haobijam, ADC and other district level officers.

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