Dharamshala, June 16
Himachal Pradesh on Tuesday conducted a state-wide mega mock drill to evaluate the preparedness of administrative and emergency response agencies for potential natural disasters. In Kangra district, disaster management exercises were carried out across seven sub-divisions, involving the administration, police, Home Guards, National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), and other rescue agencies.
Additional Deputy Commissioner (ADM), Kangra, Shilpi Bekta, said mock drills were planned in all seven sub-divisions of the district. Exercises were successfully completed in six sub-divisions during the morning, while a separate drill in Palampur was scheduled for the evening.
Authorities developed different disaster scenarios based on each area’s geographical conditions and vulnerability. In Dharamshala, rescue teams were tested through multiple emergency situations. In Jawalamukhi, the exercise focused on disaster management in the temple area, considering the large number of pilgrims and tourists who visit the shrine.
In Indora and Fatehpur, rescue operations were simulated following an earthquake-triggered dam breach and a flood-like situation. At Shahpur ITI, a scenario involving trapped students was created, and officials also assessed procedures for seeking assistance from the Border Security Force at Barnoi. A similar rescue exercise was conducted at Rajiv Gandhi Government Engineering College in Nagrota Bagwan, where students and faculty members were assumed to be stranded.
Bekta said the drills were aimed at assessing response time, communication systems, and coordination among local administration, police, Home Guards, and disaster management agencies. Procedures for seeking assistance from central agencies were also tested. NDRF teams were linked to operations in Indora and Fatehpur, SDRF units were assigned to Jawalamukhi and Nagrota Bagwan, and coordination with the Indian Army was established for additional support in Indora.
She noted that Kangra remains one of the country’s most vulnerable seismic zones. According to estimates, an earthquake of magnitude 8.0 could result in more than 5,000 deaths and leave between 12,000 and 15,000 people injured. Such a disaster could require relief arrangements for nearly three lakh people.
Bekta also noted that areas such as McLeodganj and Dharamkot host large numbers of foreign tourists, making evacuation and relief planning an important challenge for the administration. The exercise also assessed the possibility of coordination with international relief agencies during major emergencies.
The administration plans to organize future live mock drills involving local residents. Awareness campaigns will be conducted in areas including Kotwali, Shyam Nagar, Dari, Sidhbari, Sidhpur and Fatehpur to educate people about safe evacuation routes and designated relief centres during emergencies.
Officials said such exercises help identify operational gaps and improve coordination among agencies, strengthening the overall disaster management framework. Efforts are also underway to identify suitable staging areas for mobilizing officials, resources, and emergency services in the event of large-scale damage to government infrastructure.
