Earthquake Preparedness Mock Drill Conducted

A comprehensive summary of the mock drill conducted in Delhi-NCR is as follows:

On August 2, 2025, a multi-agency mock drill was conducted across 55 locations in Delhi-NCR to evaluate the preparedness for potential earthquakes and industrial accidents. Below are the key details of the exercise:

• Purpose of the Drill: The primary goal was to assess the incident response system (IRS) and validate the capability of emergency services in response to a high-magnitude earthquake followed by chemical leaks.

• Simulated Scenarios: The exercise commenced at 9:03 a.m. with a simulated earthquake scenario, which was subsequently followed by mock chemical leak situations in industrial and transport areas across various districts.

• Participants: Several stakeholders participated, including:

  • Delhi Disaster Management Authority (DDMA)
  • Delhi Police
  • Delhi Transport Department
  • Delhi Fire Services
  • Municipal Corporation of Delhi
  • Civil Defence Volunteers
  • Home Guards
  • Residents’ Welfare Associations (RWAs)
  • School teachers
  • Metro staff

• Feedback and Gaps: Krishan Kumar, the CEO of DDMA, reported that while the drill was executed smoothly, feedback indicated certain gaps that needed attention. He highlighted the need for enhanced preparedness in critical zones such as the Yamuna floodplains and ridge areas.

• Objectives of the Drill:

  • To assess the readiness of emergency medical services and fire response units.
  • To evaluate the activation of the State Emergency Operations Centre (SEOC) and inter-agency coordination protocols.
  • To test communication systems and improve the overall preparedness and response mechanisms.

• Post-Drill Sessions: Brigadier B.S. Thakar, from the National Disaster Management Authority, facilitated a brainstorming session and debriefing with all participating stakeholders to derive lessons from the drill.

• Future Actions: The DDMA plans to collect detailed action reports from District Magistrates and various government departments to identify infrastructure gaps, IRS activation issues, public messaging deficiencies, and to enhance inter-agency coordination based on findings from the mock drill.

This mock drill is a significant step in fortifying disaster management strategies in Delhi-NCR and underscores the importance of preparedness in mitigating risks associated with natural disasters and industrial crises.

Key Points:

• Multi-agency mock drill conducted on August 2, 2025, in Delhi-NCR at 55 locations.
• Simulated scenarios included earthquakes and chemical leaks.
• Participants included multiple governmental and civil bodies.
• Drill aimed at assessing the effectiveness of the emergency response system.
• Identified gaps in preparedness, particularly in critical areas.
• Future reports will focus on improving disaster management infrastructure and coordination among agencies.