Dimapur, Nov. 17 (EMN): Nagaland State Disaster Management Authority (NSDMA) under Home department conducted the Nagaland Emergency Preparedness Exercise (NEPEx), a state-wide mega mock exercise, on November 17.
The exercise was conducted simulating an earthquake scenario with a magnitude of 8.7 on the Richter scale. The exercise was carried out to test the capability of the state to respond and also manage any mega-disaster, a DIPR report stated.
Mon: In Mon, an incident response team for the exercise was instituted with the deputy commissioner of Mon, Ajit Kumar Verma, as the responsible officer and the ADC of Mon, Y Chingyak Konyak, as the incident commander.
The exercise was carried out in four incident sites at Home Guard and Civil Defence and SDRF Office, KNSK building, DPRO office building, and District Hospital. Four strike teams comprising SDRF, Fire and Emergency Services, and Medical personnel were dispatched to the incident sites.
The exercise concluded with a debriefing of the incident response team and comments from section chiefs and Observers.
Niuland: In Niuland, the rescue operation team from SDRF displayed various rescue operation techniques at the incident site.
It stated that two observers witnessed the entire event of the mock drill and remarked that the entire chain of command, SDRF rescue team and medical relief team were efficiently and promptly responded to the situation. However, they suggested that the community first responder teams should be more proactive in the real-time disaster scenario.
The deputy commissioner of Niuland, Sara S Jamir, has thanked the SDRF team, officers, the public, and all the participants for the successful conduct of the mock drill in the district.
Longleng: The mock drill in Longleng was conducted at Longleng town public ground. The drill began after briefing by the responsible officer to the incident response team.
After completing the rescue operation, media briefing was done by RO followed by comments from the observers Dr. Henshet, vice principal of Yingli College.
In his concluding remarks, the DC and RO, Dharam Raj, thanked all the HoDs and participating teams from various agencies for completing the mock exercise as per the IRS of the district. He urged the participants to continue performing for improvement.
Peren: The mock drill in Peren district was conducted in Jalukie town. The exercise was conducted at Christian Higher Secondary School, ITMS, St. Xavier Higher Secondary School, Government Higher Secondary School, Daily market, and residential area.
The deputy commandant of 25 Assam Rifles, Vijay Pal Singh; administrator of Barail Valley School, Daniel Zeliang; and CVO of Peren, Dr. Namsiu Thou, were the observers and expressed satisfaction over the whole exercise. They have suggested for improvement in certain areas.
After the completion of the whole exercise, a de-briefing was held at Government High School ground under the chairmanship of ADC Jalukie, TL Kiusumong Tikhir, where section chiefs presented their reports and observations.
The drill concluded with a vote of thanks proposed by the deputy commissioner of Peren, Vineet Kumar.
Tuensang: The mock exercise in Tuensang town was at DC’s office old building, Old PWD complex, and under construction building of the District and Session court. The SDRF, Fire and Emergency Services, DEF, CMO and staff, Wireless, DPRO departments and NCC took part in the exercise.
In the de-briefing session, the deputy commissioner of Tuensang, Kumar Ramnikant, suggested teamwork by the concerned stakeholders in accomplishing the smooth flow of the total search and rescue operation scenario and also advised them to be cooperative and coordinate between the stakeholders in the future. He also advised all to be prepared in their respective responsibility to respond in the time of eventualities.
Dr. Keveduyi Theyo, chief medical officer of Tuensang, also encouraged his staff and others to be prepared to perform duties irrespective of leaves or shifts when a disaster occurs.
Yanchu Chang, commandant of village guards and observer, commented on the loopholes in the entire operation, while Thungchanbemo Tungoe, ADC of Tuensang, delivered the vote of thanks.
Tseminyu: The mock drill in Tseminyu was conducted at Baptist Higher Secondary School, Tseminyu; Government High School, New town; and residential building and market area.
After sounding of siren, the incident commander and other incident response teams rushed to the staging area to take stock of the situation and resources for mobilisation.
Phek: In Phek district, the staging area for relief camp, incident command post, operation section and planning section were set up at Phek town local ground.
The mock exercise was conducted by following work distributions headed by Razouvolie Dozo, deputy commissioner and chairman of DDMA, Phek.
Dozo appreciated and thanked all the concerned officials who took part in the mock exercise for sincerely performing each of their responsibilities.
Chairman of DDMA also reminded the stakeholders to be courageous in such situations.
Chümoukedima: The mock drill exercise in Chümoukedima was conducted at CTC office and DC’s office complexes with the deputy commissioner, Abhinav Shivam, as the responsible officer and the SDO as the incident commander.
It was successfully conducted in association with different concerned departments like the medical team, Police, NDRF, Traffic and CTYO volunteers, RD, Agri, Fire Services etc.
The exercise concluded with a debriefing session held at emergency operation centre at CTC hall, wherein the observer briefed shared suggestions and feedback on improvements needed to ensure effective response during a disaster.
Shamator: Shamator district disaster management authority with the 12 Bn NDRF team conducted the exercise at the St. Xavier School campus. The deputy commissioner of Shamator, Thsuvisie Phoji, has thanked the NDMA and NSDMA officials and staff for coming to the newest district of Nagaland for education through demonstration.
Wokha: The mock exercise in Wokha was conducted at four locations namely Don Bosco Higher Secondary School, Libemo Memorial School, District Employment Office, and Daily Bazaar in Wokha town.
The deputy commissioner and chairman of DDMA, Ajit Kumar Ranjan, thanked and congratulated all the concerned for performing their assigned responsibilities with utmost sincerity and successfully conducting the mock drill exercise.
Noklak: The mock exercise in Noklak headquarters was conducted at Christian High School under the leadership of the deputy commissioner and responsible officer, Hiazu Meru.
During the exercise, SDRF team from Tuensang participated in assisting the rescue and operations. The exercise was witnessed by hundreds of people especially students from different Schools.
Dr. Jacob Lalmalsawm, 2nd in-charge of 14 Assam Rifles, Noklak, was the observer.
Dimapur: The mock drill in Dimapur was conducted at Nagaland Stadium, Pantaloons retail outlet, Forest department residential area, Government High School in Lingrijan and GHS in Sarbura.
During the debriefing, ADC of Dimapur, who was the incident commander, stated that the mock drills are conducted for testing the preparedness level for evaluating the resource statistics of the stakeholder departments. She further said that mock drills are necessary to improve the resource capabilities in facing actual disasters.
NEPEx exercise in Dimapur was organised by the district disaster management authority, in collaboration with NSDMA, NDRF, and SDRF.
Kiphire: The mock drill in Kiphire was held at three locations namely at Government Higher Secondary School, Daily Bazaar, and District Agriculture Office respectively.
The main staging area was set up at Helipad ground, Kiphire, and the relief camp at Kiphire local ground.
Rescue crew comprising 60 personnel from Fire and Emergency Services and Nagaland Police along with 80 volunteers from different schools and colleges, government departments and agencies participated in the mock drill.
Zunheboto: The mock drill in Zunheboto was conducted in the district headquarters. The exercise was carried out to test the capability of the state in responding and also managing any mega-disaster.
Kohima: In Kohima, the mock drill was conducted in five locations namely at Grace Higher Secondary School in Bayavü, Dr. N Kire Government Higher Secondary School in Siekhazou, Mt. Olive College in Daklane, Mao Market in BOC, and one resident at House No. A 236 in Officer's Hill.
Personnel from the State Disaster Respond Force (SDRF), Medical, Fire and Emergency Services, Police personnel and Kohima Village Youth Organisation (KVYO) were involved in the search and rescue operation.
The main staging area was staged at the ground of TM Government Higher Secondary School, where all the line departments and stakeholders reported at the staging area after the emergency siren was sounded at 9:03 am to respond to the disaster.
The main observers were Lt. Col. S Jamir from the Assam Rifle; Limaakum Jamir, deputy commandant of 10th NAP (IR); Matsungshilu, deputy commandant of 4th NAP; KS Meena, deputy commandant of 37 BSF Chedema; and RJ Prasanna, assistant commandant of CRPF.
The observers were impressed by the overall setup of the exercise by the line departments and other stakeholders. However, they pointed out some areas which need more improvement for easy management and execution of the system in the future.
The incident commander and ADC of Kohima, Rhosietho Nguori, stated that the exercise was conducted to test the capability of the district to respond and manage any mega-disaster. He has thanked all the line departments, stakeholders, and KVYO for their cooperation and active participation in the exercise.