The Himachal Pradesh State Disaster Management Authority, in collaboration with the National Disaster Management Authority, conducted its 10th state-wide mega mock exercise on Monday to enhance readiness for earthquakes, cloudbursts, and forest fires.
Exercise Phases
The exercise was executed in three phases: an orientation workshop on June 2, a table-top exercise on June 12, and physical simulation drills across the state on June 15. It was led by Major General Sudhir Bahl (retd) and special secretary (disaster management) Pushpendra Rana.
Participation and Focus Areas
Participants included district administrations, emergency response agencies, health departments, armed forces, and community stakeholders. They reviewed disaster response mechanisms and noted improvements in inter-agency coordination, information sharing, and resource mobilization. Key areas identified for further strengthening include emergency communication systems, medical surge capacity, evacuation management, and district-level disaster planning.
