Army, Assam Rifles run flood drills in Northeast ahead of monsoon 2025
Synopsis
Before the monsoon arrives, the Indian Army, Assam Rifles, and NDRF are rehearsing for it — with live rescue simulations in Agartala and a five-day boatmanship training cadre in Mizoram. In a region where annual flooding displaces lakhs, these drills are less routine and more a lifeline rehearsal.
Key Takeaways
The Indian Army and NDRF conducted a joint flood relief and mock rescue drill in Agartala, Tripura on 2 June 2025 .
The drill simulated flood scenarios including civilian rescue, evacuation, medical aid, relief camp setup, and supply transportation.
The Assam Rifles ran a five-day boatmanship training cadre for all its units deployed in Mizoram , covering river navigation, flood rescue, and casualty evacuation.
Civil administration representatives and local community members participated in the Agartala exercise to build grassroots disaster awareness.
The exercises are aimed at strengthening inter-agency coordination ahead of the monsoon season across the Northeast region.
The Indian Army, Assam Rifles, and the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) conducted joint flood relief and disaster response exercises across Tripura, Mizoram, and other Northeastern states on Tuesday, 2 June, with the aim of sharpening inter-agency coordination and emergency response capabilities before the monsoon season sets in.
Joint Army-NDRF Drill in Agartala
A defence spokesman in Agartala confirmed that the Indian Army and NDRF jointly carried out a comprehensive flood relief and mock rescue drill in the city. The exercise drew participation from civil administration representatives, local stakeholders, and community members, who were sensitised on disaster preparedness and emergency response protocols.
The drill simulated a realistic flood scenario encompassing rescue of stranded civilians, evacuation from waterlogged areas, medical assistance, establishment of relief camps, and transportation of essential supplies. Teams from both agencies demonstrated specialised rescue techniques, deployment of rescue boats, casualty evacuation procedures, communication protocols, and coordinated relief operations, according to the spokesman.
What the Exercise Validated
The joint drill provided both agencies an opportunity to validate standard operating procedures, refine response mechanisms, and strengthen operational interoperability. Officials stated that the exercise reaffirmed the commitment of the Indian Army and NDRF to safeguarding lives and assets during natural disasters. It also underscored the importance of a unified approach, effective resource sharing, and swift decision-making in mitigating the impact of calamities.
Assam Rifles Boatmanship Training in Mizoram
In Mizoram, the Assam Rifles conducted a five-day boatmanship training cadre for personnel across all its units deployed in the state, as part of operational readiness measures for the monsoon season. The training covered boat handling, river navigation, flood rescue operations, casualty evacuation, outboard motor handling, safety procedures, and tactical river crossing techniques.
Personnel underwent extensive practical sessions designed to enhance their ability to operate in flood-prone and otherwise inaccessible terrain during monsoon contingencies. The cadre concluded with a practical exercise involving river crossing and rescue drills, validating the skills acquired over the five days.
Broader Significance for the Northeast
The Northeast region faces some of India's most severe annual flooding, with states like Assam, Tripura, and Mizoram regularly reporting displacement of lakhs of residents during peak monsoon months. This comes amid growing concerns over the intensity of weather events in the region, making pre-season preparedness drills increasingly critical.
The defence spokesman described Assam Rifles as the 'Sentinels of the North East', noting that the force remains committed to assisting civil administration and local communities during emergencies. Such inter-agency exercises, officials said, play a vital role in building confidence among local communities and ensuring a prompt, coordinated response when disasters strike.
Point of View
But the Northeast's flooding crisis is anything but routine — the region accounts for a disproportionate share of India's annual flood-related displacement. The real question is whether these exercises translate into faster on-ground response times when actual disasters strike, or whether they remain largely ceremonial. The inclusion of civil administration and community members in the Agartala drill is a positive structural signal, but the absence of publicly disclosed performance benchmarks or post-exercise audits makes it difficult to assess whether preparedness is genuinely improving year on year.
NationPress
18 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What flood preparedness drills did the Indian Army conduct in Tripura?
The Indian Army and NDRF jointly conducted a comprehensive flood relief and mock rescue drill in Agartala, Tripura on 2 June 2025. The exercise simulated flood scenarios including civilian rescue, evacuation, medical assistance, and relief camp establishment.
What was the Assam Rifles boatmanship training in Mizoram?
The Assam Rifles conducted a five-day boatmanship training cadre for personnel of all its units in Mizoram as part of monsoon preparedness. Training covered boat handling, river navigation, flood rescue, casualty evacuation, outboard motor handling, and tactical river crossing.
Why are these drills significant for the Northeast?
The Northeast region faces severe annual flooding that displaces large numbers of residents each monsoon season. Pre-season inter-agency drills help validate response procedures, improve coordination between the Army, Assam Rifles, and NDRF, and build community awareness before disasters occur.
Who participated in the Agartala flood drill?
The Indian Army and NDRF led the Agartala drill, with participation from civil administration representatives, local stakeholders, and community members. Their inclusion was aimed at sensitising the public on disaster preparedness and emergency response measures.
What skills did Assam Rifles personnel train on during the Mizoram cadre?
Personnel trained on boat handling, river navigation, flood rescue operations, casualty evacuation, outboard motor handling, safety procedures, and tactical river crossing techniques. The cadre ended with a practical river crossing and rescue drill to validate the acquired skills.
