Nagaland Home Commissioner, Abhijit Sinha, IAS on Thursday said that the state-level mock drill on earthquake and extreme weather disaster was a test to check the efficiency of the departments and public to manage disasters in the state.

The drill was to create awareness, improve the management, to learn and understand the actual scenario of a major earthquake and extreme weather disaster and how to handle it, he said while addressing media persons after the conduct of mock drill today.

The mock drill was organized by the Nagaland State Disaster Management Authority, Home Department and District Disaster Management Agency in collaboration with National Disaster Management Agency, Ministry of Home Affairs.

Lead consultant (ME & IRS), NDMA, Maj. Gen. Sudhir Bahl complimented all the departments and the agencies involved for participating with enthusiasm. He stated that disaster can never be hundred percent managed but it can be always improved. He mentioned that some areas which are very important in disaster is communication.

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Therefore, he appealed the Telecom Department and the other service providers to coordinate and work as a team. He also spoke on the safety of petrol pumps, to provide substantial fire safety materials and equipment. School safety was another important area where maximum exercises should be taken up, he added.

Also Read: Emergency Preparedness Exercise conducted across Nagaland

He also said that medical teams should be prepared all the time to provide extra medical equipment and also to keep coordinating with the neighbouring states in times of emergency.

SDRF, QRT and volunteers from Civil Defence rescuing landslide victims at Kohima to Wokha road near Tseisema Basa village under Kohima district as part of the NEPEx mock drill exercise

He said PWD, NHIDCL and BRO should be responsible to provide emergency surface communication routes where landslides occur and roads and bridges are being damaged.

Stating that uniformed volunteers (NCC and other agencies) would be an asset in times of disaster, he said they should be trained and coordinated.

Bahl also mentioned that participation and coordination is the most important and appealed all the public to be prepared and rent out services in times of disaster.