In preparation for the upcoming North East Preparedness Exercise (NEPEx) 2026 scheduled for April 30, a coordination meeting was convened on April 27 at the Conference Hall of the Deputy Commissioner, Dimapur. The meeting brought together key officials, line departments, and stakeholders to assess preparedness and streamline strategies for the large-scale mock disaster exercise.
Deputy Commissioner, Dimapur, Dr Tinojongshi Chang, NCS, in his address, expressed appreciation to all representatives for their presence and participation. He emphasized that NEPEx is an annual initiative aimed at strengthening preparedness for sudden disasters and urged all departments to treat the exercise with utmost seriousness.
Stressing the vulnerability of the region, he noted that Nagaland falls under Seismic Zone V—one of the most earthquake-prone zones—highlighting the importance of readiness and awareness. He further stated that the District Disaster Management Authority (DDMA) has been consistently working to enhance preparedness and ensure effective response mechanisms in the event of real-time disasters.
Nodal Officer of the Nagaland State Disaster Management Authority (NSDMA), Inaka Awomi, delivered a comprehensive PowerPoint presentation detailing the action plan for NEPEx 2026. He outlined a structured framework designed to strengthen disaster response systems and improve inter-agency coordination. Underscoring the importance of mock drills, Awomi said such exercises are critical in testing real-time response capabilities and ensuring preparedness at all levels of administration.
Highlighting the objectives of the exercise, Awomi informed that authorities will review District Disaster Management (DM) plans and Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) to ensure their effectiveness and relevance. He also emphasized the adoption of the Incident Response System (IRS) as the standard framework for emergency response, with clearly defined roles and responsibilities for all stakeholders.
Providing details of the mock scenario, Awomi stated that the exercise will simulate a high-intensity earthquake of magnitude 7.7, with the epicentre at Piphema. The simulated impacts will include deep structural cracks in government and residential buildings, fires, structural collapses, road blockages, and evacuation challenges.
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Incident sites have been identified across five locations: Hollotoli School; Westside Store; IOCL Office, Thahekhu area; Government Higher Secondary School, and PHC Hospital. The main staging area will be DC, Office Dimapur, Purana Bazar.
The exercise would also focus on strengthening coordination among emergency support functions at the district level. Efforts would be made to enhance public awareness through active involvement of media, community organizations, Urban Local Bodies (ULBs), non-governmental organizations (NGOs), and other stakeholders. Authorities will additionally identify gaps in resources, manpower, communication systems, and overall response capacity to enable timely corrective measures.
Awomi expressed confidence that with meticulous planning and coordinated execution, NEPEx 2026 would be conducted smoothly and effectively. He added that the exercise is expected to significantly enhance disaster preparedness by improving response mechanisms, optimizing resource management, and ensuring operational readiness across the district.
Along with the annual NEPEx mock exercise, Civil Defence Air Raid/Blackout would be clubbed together under the operation code name “Operation Night Guard” at 6:30 p.m.
The meeting concluded on a positive note, with officials reiterating the importance of coordinated action and comprehensive preparedness in handling emergency situations. It served as a crucial platform to review the district’s readiness, assign departmental responsibilities, and address logistical and operational challenges ahead of the mock drill.
