An online Incident Response System (IRS) Training and Table Top Exercise (TTEx) held under the chairmanship of Member of the National Disaster Management Authority, GoI, Lt General (Retd) Syed Ata Hasnain on December 12. 

Lt General Hasnain highlighted the vulnerability of Ladakh from various natural calamities and the associated disaster such as landslides, avalanches, flash floods, and fire due to natural calamities. He said that effort should be made to stay ready and stress to keep up with various preparedness measures, mitigation of loop-holes, wide dissemination of information, reinforce, and strengthen the manpower to act during disasters.  

Major General Naik through his TTEx presentation stressed that the main aim is to review the status of preparedness, awareness about our own requirements, identification of gaps, and making efforts to close those gaps.

Divisional Commissioner, Ladakh, Saugat Biswas gave a detailed account of the regular disaster review meetings being held with the aim to enforce preparedness for any eventuality. He also highlighted the need for conducting mock drills during time suitable to the region, the importance of a water-rescue team who can handle hypothermia, and requested support from NDMA for imparting training to doctors and paramedics, and also for better tele-connectivity services. 

Saugat Biswas requested NDMA’s assistance in extensive capacity building to civil defense volunteers, medical practitioners, UTDRF personnel, and others.   

During the meeting, Nodal Officer NSRMP, UT Ladakh, Dorjey Wangchuk gave a power-point presentation on Disaster Management preparedness of UT Ladakh on Earthquake; Scientist-E MoES, Dr. Babita Sharma gave a presentation on Seismicity aspects of the earthquake and its limitations; SP UTDRF, Kameshwar Puri made a presentation on preparedness for an earthquake; CMO Leh made a presentation on Ladakh on Medical Preparedness for Earthquake and COVID-19 related information for first responders; Commandant 7th Battalion, Bhatinda Punjab made a presentation on NDRF on its preparedness for Ladakh.