The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) will be holding mega mock exercises aimed at enhancing disaster preparedness in the northeastern states, which lie in one of the most seismically active regions of the world.
At a media sensitisation workshop held in Guwahati today, NDMA Member T Nandakumar said that the mock drills would be held on two days, March 10 and 13, and involve all eight states in the northeastern region, which is ranked among six of the most seismically active zones on earth.
According to a release here, the salient features of the project include preparedness, mitigation, school sensitisation, raising awareness and capacity building.
States are to be taken through the exercises in two groups.
On March 10, as part of the first group, Arunachal Pradesh (Itanagar and Ziro), Assam (Guwahati and Jorhat), Meghalaya (Shillong and Tura) and Sikkim (Gangtok and Mangan) would take part in the exercises.
They will be followed, on March 13, by Assam (Silchar), Nagaland (Dimapur and Kohima), Manipur (Imphal and Thoubal), Tripura (Agartala and Ambassa) and Mizoram (Aizawl and Serchhip).
The exercises would involve personnel of the National Disaster Response Force and State Disaster Response Force, Army and Air Force and entail large movements of manpower and equipment.
The northeastern region witnessed 10 major earthquakes between 1897 and 1952 which took a heavy toll on life and property.
