"People must first to learn help themselves", says retired Major General Sudhir Bahl on the 9th edition of the statewide mega mock drill

Shimla (Himachal Pradesh) [India], June 6 (ANI): In a major preparedness initiative, the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), along with the State Disaster Management Authority (SDMA), HP, on Friday, conducted the 9th Statewide Mock Drills on Earthquake Disaster Management across Himachal Pradesh, including key locations in Shimla. The large-scale exercise aimed at evaluating inter-agency coordination and public readiness in the event of a major seismic disaster.
The mock drills were simultaneously conducted at 70 different locations across the state. In Shimla, the drills were held at Portmore School in Chhota Shimla, Indira Gandhi Medical College and Hospital, and Vikasnagar, covering institutions with varying emergency response capacities.
The event was monitored and coordinated from the NDMA control room, with the participation of over 30 different government and defence agencies, including the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), paramilitary forces, the Indian Air Force, Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP), and both central and state-level administrative departments.
Speaking to the media, Maj. Gen. (Retd) Sudhir Bahl, Lead Consultant to the NDMA and the chief organiser of the exercise, emphasised the importance of building a culture of preparedness and community-based response mechanisms, especially in vulnerable hilly regions like Himachal Pradesh.
"The main objective of these mock exercises is to test how all state and government agencies come together in case a large-scale earthquake or similar disaster strikes. We want to see how coordinated our response is and whether we can react in a well-structured manner," said Maj. Gen. (Retd) Sudhir Bahl.
He further added that due to the challenging terrain and weak communication infrastructure in Himalayan areas, immediate external support might be delayed, making local preparedness and community participation crucial.
Outside agencies like NDRF and paramilitary forces may take time to reach remote areas. "That's why local agencies and community volunteers must be fully trained and ready to respond in those critical initial hours," he said.
Expressing concern over public complacency, Bahl stressed the need for more youth to participate as volunteers in such initiatives.
"I would like to say this to our youth: Why are you not coming forward to volunteer for these important causes? If you are trained today, you will be able to protect not just yourself, but also your family and community tomorrow," he said.
"The spirit of self-help must be at the forefront. The public must first be aware of how to save themselves before expecting help from outside," he added.
He pointed out the importance of constructing buildings by earthquake-resistant norms and following government-prescribed safety codes.
"We must ask: are our homes and buildings earthquake-resistant? Are we following the building norms laid out by the government? For instance, if you've built a balcony without proper support, that's the first thing that will collapse and cause damage. These are basic things people must know," he said.
"Our goal is to assess preparedness for a potential earthquake disaster, like the 1905 Kangra earthquake. We simulated a scenario where a petrol pump catches fire during an earthquake, testing community-based response. The exercise revealed room for improvement in government and public preparedness," he further added.
Effective disaster response relies on community participation, including trained volunteers like Aapda Mitras, civil defence personnel, home guards, NCC cadets, and veterans. These individuals can provide an immediate response until official help arrives.
Bahl reiterated that public awareness, community training, and volunteerism are vital components in disaster risk reduction strategies. He praised the enthusiasm of local volunteers present during the drills and urged sustained efforts in strengthening disaster resilience in the Himalayan states.
The coordinated statewide mock drills serve as a stark reminder that preparedness, rapid response, and inter-agency synergy are key to minimising loss of life and infrastructure damage in the wake of natural disasters. (ANI)