Port Blair, Aug. 30: A State Level Mock Disaster Management Exercise (SLME-2024) conducted today by the Directorate of Disaster Management, A&N Administration in coordination with National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), INCOIS, ANC, NDRF, District Administrations and other Emergency Support Functionaries (ESFs) of A&N Islands by creating a scenario on Earthquake followed by Tsunami. The objective of this exercise was to test Incident Response System (IRS) and the level of preparedness of all stakeholders in A&N Islands.
The SLME – 2024 started with the receipt of first bulletin at 0907 hrs from INCOIS, Hyderabad in the State Emergency Operation Centre (SEOC), Aapda Prabandhan Bhawan, Port Blair.
During the Exercise, Tsunami Sirens were blown in entire UT of A&N Islands. Alerts and warnings were issued, Operations of Incident Response Teams (IRTs) carried out in the identified incident sites, Search and Rescue teams were deployed from District Administration. Help was also sought from A&N Command and NDRF in search & rescue as well as evacuation operations. Various Departments including Police, APWD, Shipping, Controller of Ports, PBMC, Education etc. were engaged in different tasks. With the help of A&N Command, airdropping and aerial survey of various low-lying inundated areas in N&M and Nicobar districts were also carried out. All activities like Evacuation, Search & Rescue, Medical Support, Setting up relief shelter, use of various Equipment & Material, providing of relief, Transport (Air/Ship/Road) arrangement, deployment of Personnel/Volunteer/NGOs etc. have been successfully carried out to manage the Earthquake and Tsunami scenario in ANI. A dedicated command and Control Center was setup at the Conference Room of Aapda Prabandhan Bhawan at Port Blair. All the communications were done through State Emergency Operation Center as well as through District EOCs.
Shri ASPS Raviprakash, IAS, Secretary, Disaster Management, A&N Administration, Director, Disaster Management, Shri Azharuddin Zahiruddin Quazi, IAS and Comdt. (Retd.) Aditya Kumar, Sr. Consultant, NDMA, New Delhi monitored the State Level Mock Exercise from the Situation Room of the Directorate of Disaster Management. Officials from Situation Room also interacted virtually through Video Conferencing with the Officials of Districts and ESFs in different Islands and took stock of their alertness, response and preparedness to deal with the situation in the wake of a disaster. Hotlines, Satellite Phones and VHF sets were utilized as an alternate channels of communications with the Districts and other EOC in-charges. Requirement of Men and Material were taken from simulation sites and immediate orders were issued to Line Departments for providing the required personnel as well material. Requests for providing additional equipment and other emergency support were also made to A&N Command, MHA and NDMA.
This Exercise focused upon effectiveness of information dissemination, alert & warning, and response of IRTs to save precious lives and property. The Exercise ended with All Clear Message issued from SEOC to all EOCs &Stakeholders.
Later, a Debriefing session was held in the Situation Room of Directorate of Disaster Management under the chairmanship of Shri ASPS Raviprakash, IAS, Secretary, (DM) A&N Administration wherein all the activities carried out during this Exercise by the District Administrations, Line Departments, A&N Command, NDRF, INCOIS, Incident Commanders and nominated observers, were comprehensively reviewed and feedbacks were taken from all stakeholders and observers.
Thereafter, Comdt. (Retd.) Aditya Kumar, Sr. Consultant, NDMA, New Delhi, identified the gaps and key areas that need attention of the Administration. He also appreciated the efforts of all IRTs, District Administrations, NDRF, ANC and other stakeholders for successful completion of this exercise. He emphasized upon regular conduct of such exercises from time to time in ANI. While expressing his satisfaction on the preparedness of the UT, he emphasized that the UT Administration should work upon the lessons learnt from this exercise. During closing remarks, the chair stressed upon the active participation of all ESFs to further improve emergency response and to update their Disaster Management Plans and Standard Operating Procedures. He also underlined the need for better co-ordination between Departments and various other agencies like A&N Command, AAI and NDRF.
In the end, the chair thanked all the stakeholders including Comdt. (Retd.) Aditya Kumar, Sr. Consultant and Dr. Vazeem Iqbal, Consultant, NDMA, New Delhi for their support and coordination for successful conduct of SLME – 2024 in the Islands. Further, vote of thanks was given to INCOIS, ANC, NDRF, District Administration, all participant Departments and communities of this UT for the successful conduct of the exercise.