Mock drills under ‘Operation Abhyas’ test disaster preparedness

As part of the ongoing ‘Operation Abhyas’, coordinated mock drills were carried out at two key locations in Shimla — the office of the District Disaster Management Authority (DDMA) and a parking area in Sanjauli — to evaluate emergency response systems and inter-agency coordination.

The first simulation took place at the Deputy Commissioner’s office at 4 pm, where a mock fire was reported in the DDMA office. An alert was raised by 4.02 pm and within two minutes, the fire brigade arrived at the scene. Police, State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), Home Guard, health services and the Army quickly followed. The Army led a swift reconnaissance operation, after which the Home Guards carried out rescue efforts. Three injured individuals were safely evacuated and provided with first aid on-site. Members of the Civil Defence also participated actively in the drill, lending support in evacuation and logistical coordination.

Simultaneously, another mock scenario was staged at a parking lot in Sanjauli, simulating the aftermath of an airstrike that resulted in one fatality and four injuries. The alert was raised at 4 pm and by 4.10 pm, emergency teams, including the police, SDRF, fire services and ambulances reached the site. Firefighters controlled the blaze while SDRF personnel carried out rescue operations. All injured were promptly transported to Indira Gandhi Medical College & Hospital (IGMC) for treatment.

Shimla DC Anupam Kashyap commended the swift and coordinated response displayed by all participating agencies. He particularly praised the involvement of the Army, Home Guards and SDRF, noting their enthusiasm and professionalism. The DC further announced that the Army would soon provide special training to Civil Defence members to enhance their disaster response capabilities. “Essential item kits will also be prepared for Civil Defence personnel to ensure they are equipped during real emergencies,” he added.

Highlighting the importance of community involvement, Kashyap said the objective of the drill was to strengthen Civil Defence and demonstrate how citizens can play a critical role in managing disaster situations. He also mentioned the plan to allocate a dedicated room for Civil Defence operations in the future.

A post-drill briefing was held at Bachat Bhawan, where ADM (Protocol) Jyoti Rana presented a detailed report on the Sanjauli mock drill. Feedback was shared by officers and personnel from the army, police, SDRF, Home Guard, and Civil Defence, contributing to the evaluation of the day’s exercises and helping improve future preparedness.

Himachal Tribune