UT Disaster Management Authority (LDMA), Ladakh conducted a mock drill exercise on earthquakes, and flash floods in collaboration with National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), and UT Disaster Response Force (UTDRF) in Leh on August 4.

Lieutenant Governor Ladakh Brig. Dr B. D. Mishra witnessed the operations and rescue operations at the staging area in Govt Girls Higher Secondary School, Leh. The NDRF task force performed several rescue operations and the rescue equipment and machinery of UTDRF was on display. The mock drills were efficiently carried out at all the different camps.

The mock drill exercise was conducted at different designated locations, including Food Craft Institute, Takshi Thang, SNM Hospital, Govt Girls Higher Secondary School, Main Market, Leh as a staging area, EJM College, Tashi Thongsmom, Choglamsar, Leh and ARTO Office, Jaffaria Academy of Modern Education, SNM College Hospital, Councillor Residential Quarter, landslide/GLOF Area, and Relief camp at RDD Building, Kargil. Each of these locations was allotted a designated Camp In-charge who was responsible for the overall management of their respective camps and was instructed to be in touch with the UT Emergency Operation Centre (EOC), Leh.

The mock drill was successfully conducted in association with the different concerned departments like PWD, PDD, Health and Telecommunication, civil society members, and central government agencies-armed and paramilitary forces.

The aim of the mock drill exercise is to evaluate the preparedness of the disaster management authority and forces of the UT and district administrations to effectively tackle any adverse situation when faced with a disaster.

The mock drill exercise concluded with a debriefing session held at Emergency Operation Centre (EOC), Upper Tukcha, Leh. At the session, the Camp In-Charge of different camps highlighted the best and the worst practices observed during the mock drill.

Major General Sudhir Bahl shared suggestions and feedback for improvements needed to ensure effective response during the disaster in the future with minimum loss of time and resources.