ITANAGAR, Sep 18: Under the guidance of the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), Government of India, the Arunachal Pradesh State Disaster Management Authority (APSDMA) successfully conducted a State-Level Mega Mock Exercise on Earthquake, Landslide, and Glacial Lake Outburst Flood (GLOF) on Thursday across the state. The Mock Exercise was coordinated by Major General Sudhir Bahl (Rtd), Lead Consultant (ME & IRS), NDMA and conducted under the close supervision of Dani Salu, Secretary, Department of Disaster Management.
The mock exercise simulated a powerful earthquake measuring 7.7 magnitude, with the epicentre located at 27.280°N and 93.600°E, at a focal depth of 26 km. The simulated epicentre was approximately 40.8 km northeast of Itanagar Capital Region, 51 km southeast of Ziro, and 103 km east of Seppa.
At 08:14 hrs, a siren was blown to signal the commencement of the earthquake scenario. Immediately, the State Emergency Operation Centre (SEOC) and District Emergency Operation Centres (DEOCs) were activated to function round-the-clock.
In response to the simulated large-scale destruction, the Incident Response System (IRS) was activated at both the state and district levels. Responsible Officers initiated emergency protocols to manage potential casualties and damage to infrastructure. All functional healthcare facilities were instructed to remain on high alert and prepare for mass casualty management.
Public advisories were issued urging citizens to remain calm and stay in safe locations. Emergency contact numbers were disseminated widely for public use.
Simultaneously, the APSDMA reviewed the availability of essential food supplies and other critical resources in coordination with the Department of Food and Civil Supplies, while also assessing the preparedness of other key stakeholder departments.
A de-briefing session followed the mock exercise, during which key observations on good points and areas of improvement were discussed.
Prior to the field mock, a table-top exercise was conducted on 17th September wherein the roles and responsibilities of the Incident Response Teams were clearly defined. The session was chaired by Major General Sudhir Behl (Retd.), who also highlighted existing gaps and suggested actionable solutions for enhanced readiness.
Present during the exercise, Principal Secretary (Home), Kaling Tayeng, emphasised the importance of regularly updating the roles and responsibilities of Incident Response Team members during the Annual Monsoon Preparedness Meetings. He called on District Disaster Management Authorities to review and update their respective District Disaster Management Plans (DDMPs) for improved response capabilities.
Highlighting the critical role of communication systems during crises, Tayeng directed the Telecom Department, in coordination with the Department of Disaster Management, to identify and secure critical telecom assets across districts and ensure uninterrupted power supply to essential communication infrastructure.
Dani Salu, Secretary, Department of Disaster Management expressed his appreciation for the active participation of all stakeholders and reaffirmed its commitment to building a resilient disaster management system in Arunachal Pradesh.
The Mock Exercise was participated by All DDMAs, Personnel from Indian Army, CISF, ITBP, BRO, NDRF, SDRF, NCC, OSCAR INDIA (HAM Operator) and other key stakeholders.

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Kenter Joya Riba

(Managing Editor)
      She is a graduate in Science with post graduation in Sociology from University of Pune. She has been in the media industry for nearly a decade. Before turning to print business, she has been associated with radio and television.
Email: kenterjoyaz@easternsentinel.in / editoreasternsentinel@gmail.com
Phone: 0360-2212313

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