The Himachal Pradesh State Disaster Management Authority, in collaboration with the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), conducted the 10th state-wide mega mock drill today to further strengthen preparedness for disasters such as earthquakes, cloudbursts, and forest fires. District administrations, emergency response agencies, the Health Department, armed forces, various government departments, and community representatives actively participated in the drill, which was led by Major General (Retd.) Sudhir Bahl and Dr Pushpendra Rana, Special Secretary (Disaster Management).

The primary objective of the mock drill was to review current disaster management preparedness and enhance the capacity to effectively handle large-scale disasters. During the exercise, key achievements from previous drills-such as improved inter-agency coordination, rapid information exchange, effective resource availability, and strong collaboration among disaster response agencies-were reviewed. This initiative will help strengthen disaster preparedness and management at the district level. Areas requiring further improvement were also identified during the event.

These include strengthening communication systems for emergencies, regularly updating district disaster management plans, developing additional capacity in health services, improving traffic management and evacuation protocols, and identifying suitable locations for the rapid deployment of resources and relief teams. Emphasis was also placed on conducting regular district-level mock exercises and simulation drills to ensure continuous preparedness.