New Delhi: The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), along with the Indian Army and the governments of Delhi, Haryana, and Uttar Pradesh, will carry out major disaster response practice drills in Delhi NCR starting July 29 to August 1. These drills are meant to improve how different teams work together and respond to serious emergencies like earthquakes or chemical accidents, officials said.
The mock drill is being called ‘Suraksha Chakra’. It is going to be one of the biggest safety mock drills ever conducted in Delhi NCR, said officials.
Earthquake mock drill: Dates, what to expect
On July 29, a major meeting will be held at the Manekshaw Centre to talk about risks in the NCR and how to deal with them. On July 30, disaster teams will meet again at the same place to carry out mock planning and strategy sessions based on imagined disaster situations.
The NDMA stated that an earthquake-like situation will be staged in 18 districts across the national capital region on August 1. During this time, teams will practice how to respond in such a crisis. People might see more emergency vehicles than usual — including ambulances, fire trucks, police cars, and army vehicles — as well as a strong presence of rescue forces such as the NDRF, Armed Forces, and Civil Defence. There will also be use of sirens, loudspeakers, temporary field offices, medical centers, shelters, and fake rescue missions.
Areas in Delhi to witness earthquake mock drill
As per the circular, all 11 districts in Delhi will take part in the mock drill. These include:
- Central Delhi
- New Delhi
- East Delhi
- Shahdara
- North Delhi
- North East Delhi
- North West Delhi
- West Delhi
- South Delhi
- South East Delhi
- South West Delhi
The NDMA officials have asked the public not to be alarmed during these activities, as all events are part of a planned and safe practice. They explained that no real danger is involved, and the goal is to make sure the area is better prepared if a real emergency ever happens. “These efforts are aimed at checking and improving the response systems to protect the lives of people during actual disasters,” said an NDMA statement.