Port Blair, Feb. 7: As part of the State Level Mock Disaster Management Exercise (TATPAR-2023) scheduled to be conducted on Feb.9, 2023 in A&N Islands, a Table Top Exercise (TTE) under the Chairmanship of Shri Nikhil Kumar, IAS, Commissioner-cum-Secretary (Disaster Management and Relief & Rehabilitation), A&N Administration was organized with the National Disaster Management Authority, Ministry of Home Affairs, GoI, New Delhi, Line Departments of A&N Administration, District Administrations (South Andaman, N&M Andaman and Nicobar), Armed Forces, NDRF, Police and other stakeholders of A&N Islands today in the Conference Hall of Secretariat in order to enhance the capacity towards Disaster Preparedness of A&N Islands.

In his address, the Commissioner-cum-Secretary explained the vulnerability profile of A&N Islands towards Earthquake seismic zone - V and cyclogeneses prone area and stressed upon the active participation of all stakeholders to test and check their Disaster Management Plans and Standard Operating Procedures during the Mock Disaster Management Exercise. He also explained the Disaster Preparedness of this Union Territory after Tsunami, 2004 and enactment of Disaster Management Act, 2005. He urged all stakeholders for their active participation in the State Level Mock DM Exercise and respond efficiently as per Incident Response System (IRS) of ANI.

Lt. Gen (Rtd.) Syed Ata Hasnain, Hon’ble Member, National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) who joined virtually in the TTE expressed his gratitude to the UT of A&N Islands for conducting the State Level Mock DM Exercise in coordination with NDMA and other National Level Agencies. He also stressed on the community participation and trainings to community to build their capacity to tackle and manage disasters in golden hours.

Shri A.S.P.S. Ravi Prakash, IAS Secretary (DM) emphasized on the active participation and response of all the stakeholders in the TTE and State Level Mock DM exercise as per Disaster Management Plans and SOPs.   

Earlier, Dr. Nitin Shakya, Director (DM) welcomed the Chairman and participants of TTE and explained the objectives of State Level Mock DM Exercise. 

The Table Top Exercise on Tsunami scenario was conducted by Maj. Gen. (Retd.) Sudhir Bahl, Sr. Consultant, NDMA, New Delhi which was attended by all line Departments, Indian Coast Guard, ANC, NDRF, CISF, A&N Police, District Administration, South Andaman and virtually by INCOIS, Hyderabad, District Administrations (N&M Andaman and Nicobar), Diglipur, Rangat, Campbell Bay (Sub-Divisions) and Little Andaman.

During the Table Top Exercise, various scenarios of Tsunami were painted before Incident Response Teams of UT, District and Sub-Division/Island levels and reviewed their preparedness and responses which will be checked and tested during the State Level Mock DM Exercise scheduled on Feb.9, 2023.   

The Sr. Consultant, NDMA showed his satisfaction on the preparedness of the UT towards the conduct of State Level Mock DM Exercises.