Mock tabletop exercise on earthquake, landslide begins in Kishtwar

Kishtwar, Nov 4: A district-level mock exercise simulating earthquake and other natural as well as man made disasters began here today.

The two day long exercise is being organised by the District Administration in collaboration with the 13 battalion National Disaster Response Force (SDRF) to enhance disaster preparedness, improve response capabilities, and strengthen inter-departmental coordination.

The tabletop exercise was presided over by Deputy Commissioner Rajesh Kumar Shavan in presence of SSP Kishtwar Abdul Qayoom and representatives from Revenue, Health, Police, Fire and Emergency Services, Public Works and Civil Defense were present.

The DC emphasised the importance of preparedness and swift action to minimize loss of life and property during natural disasters. He urged all departments, as well as the general public and community members, to actively participate in preparedness drills to ensure readiness for any emergency.

The DC referred to Kishtwar as a historically disaster-prone district, citing incidents such as accidents, avalanches, earthquakes, and other emergencies. He highlighted that disasters do not respect administrative boundaries and stressed the need to train individuals to provide immediate assistance when required. He also emphasised the importance of efficiently utilising relief materials and establishing systematic approaches and relief cells to ensure aid reaches those in genuine need.

SSP underscored the importance of establishing a dedicated phone line at the local control room to disseminate information related to disaster management at tehsil level as well.

Assistant Commandant of the NDRF, Javed Iqbal, led discussions on coordinated responses to potential earthquake and landslide situations, focusing on resource mobilisation, evacuation plans, and communication strategies. The exercise outlined the roles and responsibilities of each department in a real emergency while identifying potential gaps in the current disaster response framework.