Morung Express News
Dimapur | April 26
The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) conducted Nagaland Emergency Preparedness Exercise (NEPEx 2018) simulating the Shillong Earthquake of 1897 magnitude of 8.7 Richter scale. The NEPEx 2018 witnessed the participation of more than 30,000 people.
NDMA in a press release informed that for the purpose of review and evaluation of NEPEx 2018, observers were invited from NDMA, MHA, GoI Dhirendra Singh Sindhu, Joint Advisor, officials from the NDRF 12 Bn, Assam Disaster Management Authority, Indian Air Force, BSF and Assam Rifles. During the debriefing, observers gave suggestions as lessons learnt to improve the preparedness of the State.
The debriefing was chaired by the Chief Secretary who is the Responsible Officer in the presence of the Advisor NSDMA, Home Department, Pukhayi. It was attended by AHODs/HODs and the observers.
Longleng: Despite shortage of manpower and machineries, Longleng district conducted NEPEx on earthquake and outbreak of fire. The mock drill was conducted at St. Joseph School and Phom Lampong School for earthquake while Treasury office for outbreak of fire.
After the siren alarm was blown, the line departments along with required machineries, equipments, items and manpower rushed to the local ground to take not of the prevailing situation.
They setup their respective emergency camp to provide relief, shelter and first aid to the fire and earthquake victims.
The Incident Commander & ADC Longleng, Temsuwati gave an emergency briefing to the rescue team and informed them about the three locations badly affected by the disaster. The Fire & Emergency Service along with ambulance rushed to Treasury office to dose off the fire and liberated the fire victims while the Police and 12th NAP (IR) rushed to Phom Lampong School and St. Joseph School and rescued the student victims. The rescue operation teams rushed back to the staging area setup at local ground to provide all necessary facilities to the victims.
Earlier, John Tsulise Sangtam, DC & Responsible Officer informed the Incident Commander about the badly affected incident in the town by the earthquake that occurred in the morning. After all the rescue operation was carried out successfully, the Responsible Person visited the Relief & Rehabilitation camp and interacted with the patients and rescue teams.
Later, he briefed the media and the gathering about the disaster and its effects on human lives and properties. He informed that all transportation and communication system was also badly affected by the disaster in the district and urged the concern agencies to restore it for emergency purpose. The DC & RP also appealed to the NGOs and the Church to come forward to provide all necessary assistance to the victims at the time of grief and to restore to normalcy. He also highlighted about shortage of manpower, medicine and machineries and appealed to the concern authorities to provide the facilities for emergency.
Mon: In Mon district, the Emergency Preparedness Exercise was initiated by the District Administration and other departments. The drill was exercised simulating the 8.7 magnitude earthquake of Richter scale. This Mega Mock exercise is to test the capability of the district to responds, manage and timely responds during the time of disaster and to minimize loss of lives and properties.
The drill was conducted in Government Higher Secondary School, St. Mary School, District Hospital, Lucy’s shopping Complex, Police Church, NST garage, Wangkhao College, DRDA office and Phomching and Aboi Sub-division.
Staging area were set up at Local Ground, Relief Camp at Badminton Stadium, Helibase at Helipad, and at DBs court Incident Command Post, Operation Section, Planning Section and Logistic Section were set up. Volunteers from GHSS, St. Mary School, KBCM and Walo, Jahjon, Wagiem and Tanlao wards acted as Community First Responders.
Kiphire: The NSDMA in collaboration with Kiphire DDMA and concerned departments conducted the NEPEx Mock drill. The mock drill was conducted at Loyola Hr. Sec. School, District Agriculture office, Kiphire Town Council building and in private residential building. In the mock drill lasting for about 2 (two) hours a scenario of death victims, seriously injured, minor injuries were emulated in all four locations.
Emergency Operation Machinery was alerted and activated immediately on sounding the siren for second time. The district emergency centre, staging area, incident command post operation section, logistic section post, relief and medical cam, etc. were established at the Helipad Kiphire Town.
About 100 SDRF Personnel and 200 volunteers from various schools, departments, Bharat scout and Guides and NCC from Zisaji Presidency College, Kiphire took active part in the mock drill.
Thousands of Public who witnessed the mock drill was imparted awareness on how to respond in an event of any calamities. The drill concluded with vote of thanks from ADC, Kiphire, Kumar Ramnikant, IAS.
Dimapur: In Dimapur district, the mock drill exercise was conducted with the involvement Dimapur DDMA and all the stakeholders. The NEPEx exercise was done on the spot projecting real live happening situation. No prior traffic arrangements were made and the SDRF or rescue teams were also assigned their tasks on the spot from the staging areas, where all the resources were kept ready.
As soon as the siren sounded at 10:00 am, the DC Dimapur Sushil Kumar Patel called an emergency meeting at the Emergency Operation Center located at his office where the officials and stakeholders were briefed for carrying out their tasks in the staging area. ADC Dimapur Sara Jamir was the Incident Commander.
Later, after the exercise, debriefing was held in DCs conference hall, where ADC Dimapur, Sara Jamir observed that the mock drill was better than expected yet remarked that the level of preparedness was not up to the mark when compared to a real live situation. She was of the opinion that the wireless system needs upgradation in certain areas. She advised all the departments for updating the available resources and machineries so that planning and coordination could be worked promptly in the event of a disaster.
The observers for Dimapur district observed that the performance of the Medical department was outstanding.
Zunheboto: Organised by Zunheboto DDMA, Mega Mock Drill in Zunheboto, was held under the chairmanship of ADC Zunheboto, Vekhoyi Chakhesang.
Departments who took part in the drill included Administration, District Planning, RD department, District Agriculture Office, District Welfare Office, Police, Medical, Food and Civil Supplies, NIC, NST, Treasuries and Accounts, Land Records and Survey, Election, Home Guards and Civil Defence, State Disaster Response Force, District Transport Office, DPRO, 111 BSF, 5th Assam Rifles Zunheboto, Fire Services, PHED and PWD(R&B), Project colony youth volunteers, Government Higher Secondary School, Olympic Higher Secondary School.
Khenito Chishi, District Commandant, Home Guards and Civil Defence was the Operation Section Chief, Observers Report was given by Lhokiye Yepthomi, DESO Zunheboto.
Phek: An Emergency Operation Centre, consisting of logistic section, planning section, operation section and incident command post was set up at Phek Local Ground for the exercise. Mock drill demonstration was conducted at different locations namely Bible Hill Colony Junction, Church junction Bethany-I Colony, Mission Compound Colony, Govt. Hr. Sec. School and Deputy Commissioner Office compound, Phek, where emergency response team were send to carry out procedural search and rescue evacuation of casualties to the nearest medical centre.
Wokha: Wokha district conducted mock drill at four locations viz Mt. Tiyi College Wokha, Police point, Little Angle School and WTC Shopping complex. Siren was sounded at 10:00 am to signal the starting of the drill, after which the Community First Responders (CFRs) reported about the incidents to the officers present at the Emergency Operation Centre. Personnel from SDRF team and Fire & Emergency Services department reached at all the pre-identified location to carry out rescue and operation works assisted by the police, Assam Rifles, Medical team, CFRs and Trainers of Trainees. Emergency Operation Centre was set up at DC conference hall, staging area at Wokha local ground, incident command post at ground rostrum and operation section, planning section and Logistic section were also set up at local ground.
Chairman, Wokha DDMA & DC Wokha, Dr. Manazir Jeelani Samoon, IAS during the debriefing convinced that the district can handle any situation in times of any disaster. He also opined that there are some grey areas which need to be taken care of in the coming days.
Peren: The Peren DDMA conducted the mega mock under the supervision of District Administration, Peren where ADC, Chuba Wati Chang in his briefing dwelt on the importance of NEPex in the State. Further he said that Nagaland being vulnerable to many natural calamities, it is imperative to establish a scientific approach in responding and managing disaster. Both government and the public to prepare for any disaster which is usually occur without any warning.
The drill began at 10:0 am after the siren was blown. The incident response system, operation, section, the planning section and the logistic system swung into action after a briefing by the responsible officer at the ADC office. The Emergency Operation Centre was set off at the local ground Peren. The enactment show road blockage was from Jalukie to Peren, Peren to Tening and Jalukie to Athibung.
Tuensang: Tuensang DDMA conducted NEPEx with the Government Agencies, School and Colleges and Public. The Mock Drill was carried out by simulating an earthquake of 8.7 magnitude Richter scale with a scenario of mass causality at bazaar area, Fire and building collapse at Agri Office, high rise building rescue at Youth Resource Office, search and rescue at residential area and school evacuation drill. After the compilation of drill, a debriefing session was held at staging area and chaired by EAC (Dev) Tuensang, Tsidi where closing remarks was given by DC and Chairman DDMA, L. Jamithung Lotha.
Mokokchung: Mock Exercise was carried out in Mokokchung simulating an earthquake of 8.4 magnitude resulting collapse of building and number of casualties in different locations.
Stationing at Imkongmeren Sports Complex as Emergency Operation Centre, Mock Drill on rescue operation was carried out in four locations in the Town, Edith Douglas Higher Secondary School, Longkumer Kilem, Alempang Ward and Post Office Area. ADC Mokokchung W. Manpai Phom, who was the Responsible Officer (RO), during the debriefing thanked all the departments, Response Teams, Student Volunteers, Ward Authorities, Stake Holders and the Assam Rifles for their contribution in making the Mock Exercise a success.
Around 500 individuals comprising of personnel from SDRF, police, Assam Rifles, students, stalk holders, volunteer from different wards and government officials participated in the Exercise. (With inputs from DIPR news)
