What Disaster Management Drills Are Happening in Delhi Tomorrow?

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- Disaster management drills enhance preparedness.
- Over 200 drills conducted in the past five years.
- Participation from citizens is vital for success.
- Collaboration between many agencies ensures effective drills.
- Increased visibility of emergency services during drills.
New Delhi, July 31 (NationPress) In a bid to enhance emergency preparedness ahead of the Independence Day celebrations, a disaster management drill is set to take place at 55 locations across Delhi on Friday, confirmed a senior official on Thursday.
This drill is part of a broader initiative titled "Exercise Suraksha Chakra", which encompasses a multi-state integrated disaster management mock exercise.
The event will simulate various disaster scenarios, including earthquakes and industrial and chemical hazards, across 55 locations within 11 districts of Delhi.
The primary venue for the drill will be the office of the Divisional Commissioner at the Command and Control Centre, which serves as the headquarter for the District Disaster Management Authorities (DDMAs).
On the eve of this exercise, the Delhi government has made available a comprehensive list of the 55 locations throughout the Delhi-NCR region that will participate in the mock drills on Friday.
This event is a collaborative effort organized by the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), DDMAs, and the Indian Army's Headquarters of Western Command and Headquarters of Delhi Area.
Beyond Delhi, the mock drill will also take place in two districts of Uttar Pradesh, specifically Noida and Ghaziabad, along with five districts in Haryana, which include Gurugram, Faridabad, Palwal, Nuh, and Rewari.
Krishan Kumar, CEO of DDMA, encouraged residents of Delhi to remain composed and participate in the exercise, as they may notice a heightened presence of police, fire, and emergency vehicles throughout the day on Friday.
Previously, the NDMA, DDMA, and the Indian Army's Western Command, along with the Headquarters of Delhi Area, initiated a pioneering multi-state disaster management symposium on Tuesday focused on enhancing preparedness for earthquakes and chemical hazards across 18 districts in Delhi, Haryana, and Uttar Pradesh.
“Simulations featured a chemical emergency scenario led by Brigadier (retired) Ravinder Gurung and an earthquake response briefing by Brigadier Thakkar. These exercises conveyed an essential message: preparedness today is the foundation of resilience tomorrow,” the NDMA stated on the social media platform X.
As per the NDMA, over 200 mock disaster drills have been conducted in the past five years throughout India.
The Union Home Minister Amit Shah has also advocated for conducting such drills in every district every three years.