Tura, Aug 1: The District Disaster Management Authority (DDMA), South Garo Hills, conducted a comprehensive two-day training and earthquake mock drill at the Gasuapara C&RD Block from July 29 to 31.
The programme was designed to strengthen local preparedness and response mechanisms in the event of natural disasters, particularly earthquakes, by focusing on the Incident Response System (IRS), search and rescue operations, and first aid.
Personnel from various departments, including the block administration, police, medical teams, Village Employment Council (VEC) secretaries, and Civil Defence volunteers, actively participated in the training sessions.
A full-scale earthquake simulation was carried out on July 30, based on a scenario involving a 7.3 magnitude earthquake with its epicentre located in neighbouring Bangladesh. The simulated tremor was said to have struck at 1:15 PM, affecting the Gasuapara Block area. In the exercise, the Block Office building sustained simulated structural damage, prompting the evacuation of all staff to a safe zone. Eight individuals were reported “injured” as part of the drill, suffering from various mock injuries including head trauma, fractures, and minor wounds. The earthquake scenario also triggered a simulated landslide, blocking roads and damaging infrastructure, which required teams to conduct coordinated rescue efforts and administer emergency medical care.
The drill aimed to test the efficiency and coordination of the involved departments and to ensure that standard operating procedures are well understood and properly implemented in a real disaster situation. Officials from the DDMA noted that such exercises are critical in enhancing grassroots-level disaster response capabilities and in building a culture of readiness across departments.
Also Read: Meghalaya faces 88% chance of major earthquake in the next century, study finds
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