Ampati, March 20: South West Garo Hills, under the supervision of the Deputy Commisioner incharge South West Garo Hills, Dolrich B.G. Momin, as the Responsible Officer, successfully conducted a statewide mock drill simulating an 8.3 magnitude earthquake with its epicenter in Shillong. The exercise was carried out on Thursday at various operational sites across the district.
The mock drill aimed to test and enhance the district’s emergency preparedness and response capabilities in the event of a high-magnitude earthquake.
The Superintendent of Police, Vikash Kumar, participated as the Operations Chief. ADCs and BDOs participated in the exercise as Incident Commanders, Deputy Incident Commanders, Planning Chief and Logistics Chief, coordinating rescue and relief operations.
The exercise witnessed active participation from officers and staff of various departments, local residents, community members, healthcare workers, Police, Fire and Emergency Services, MPRO, SDRF, BSF, and other key stakeholders. Simulated scenarios included landslides, collapsed buildings, and fires to assess real-time response and coordination among agencies.
Medical teams and ambulances were deployed to provide immediate care. However, it was observed that the limited availability of ambulances and rescue teams led to delays in reaching multiple affected locations within the shortest possible time.
After the State Debriefing, D.B.G. Momin, MCS, extended his heartfelt appreciation to all participants for their active involvement and dedication, which contributed to the successful execution of the exercise. He emphasized the importance of strengthening response mechanisms and improving resource availability to enhance future disaster preparedness.
The mock drill served as a valuable learning experience, identifying key areas for improvement and reinforcing the district’s commitment to strengthening disaster management and response capabilities.
