Delhi, Aug 1
As part of the campaign to spread awareness and sensitise people about earthquakes and other calamities, a mega disaster management mock drill was conducted in 11 districts in Delhi on Friday.
The mock drill held at more than 50 locations, including markets, schools and hospitals, is aimed at bolstering emergency response capabilities for major calamities such as earthquakes and chemical disasters.
The officials have said that the drill is part of a multi-agency 'Exercise Suraksha Chakra' designed to enhance emergency response coordination in the National Capital Region, covering 18 districts across Delhi, Haryana, and Uttar Pradesh. In Delhi, the Delhi Disaster Management Authority (DDMA) said the mock drill will simulate a major earthquake scenario and test real-time preparedness, inter-agency coordination, and public response mechanisms.
At around 9.00 a.m., a mock earthquake scenario was triggered across the capital. The drill, coordinated by the DDMA, activated response teams, evacuations, and containment efforts across schools, hospitals, markets, and high-risk zones.
The operation is part of a larger four-day national disaster preparedness exercise being conducted by the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA).
A mock earthquake drill was conducted at a sewing centre in Block 10, Geeta Colony. Following a simulated emergency call, teams from Geeta Colony Police, Traffic Police, medical staff, ambulance services and the SDM rushed to the scene and carried out mock rescue and relief work.
The officials said that while Delhi has conducted isolated mock drills before, this is the first time all 11 districts will run a simultaneous, coordinated disaster simulation.
The capital's seismic vulnerability makes it one of the most high-risk zones in the country. The drill includes a double-crisis situation: a severe earthquake, followed by hazardous chemical leaks in critical areas.
The NDMA officials have said the drill helps to test the national capital's ability to handle disaster situations. They also said that such a drill is essential for the people, as Delhi falls in Seismic Zone IV.
— IANS
Reader Comments
Did this at my child's school today! Kids were so excited but also learned important safety steps. More parents should demand such drills in all schools. Safety first! ðŸ‘
Good step but execution matters. Saw traffic police struggling to manage both real traffic and drill scenario near Lajpat Nagar. Need better planning for actual emergencies when chaos will be 100x worse.
As someone who experienced the 2001 Gujarat earthquake, I can't stress enough how important these drills are. But Delhi needs to focus on slum areas too - they're most vulnerable during disasters.
Suraksha Chakra is a good name for this initiative! Reminds me of chakravyuh from Mahabharata - we need that level of strategic preparedness against disasters. Jai Hind!
Saw the drill at our local hospital today. Doctors and staff were very professional but I noticed fire exits were blocked with storage items! This is exactly why we need such exercises - to find these gaps before real disasters strike.
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