Multiple districts across Nagaland conducted virtual capacity-building programmes on April 22 in preparation for Nagaland Emergency Preparedness Exercise 2026.
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DIMAPUR — Multiple districts across Nagaland conducted virtual capacity-building programmes on April 22 in preparation for the eighth edition of the Nagaland Emergency Preparedness Exercise (NEPEx) scheduled for April 30.
The Nagaland State Disaster Management Authority under the Home department will organise the large-scale mock exercise with support from the National Disaster Management Authority under the Ministry of Home Affairs.
According to a DIPR report, this year's simulation will focus on earthquake and extreme weather disaster scenarios, aiming to strengthen the state's preparedness and response capabilities.
A tabletop exercise is scheduled for April 29 at the State Emergency Operation Centre, Capital Convention Centre, in Kohima, with participation from officials of the line departments and nodal officers for disaster management in person.
District Disaster Management Authorities (DDMAs), along with other stakeholders, will attend the programme virtually. Further details, including standard operating procedures, will be shared during the preparatory sessions.
For any queries regarding the NEPEx 2026, one may contact the officer in-charge, Khroulou Koza Lohe, Assistant (Training and Education), Home Department, at khroulou.lohe@nsdma.org or phone 9856132002.
Kohima: In preparation for the upcoming mock exercise, a virtual capacity-building programme was conducted at the Deputy Commissioner's (DC) office in Kohima.
Deputy Commissioner and Chairman of the DDMA Kohima, B Henok Buchem, along with Superintendent of Police Krodi Rhetso and officials from various departments, including police, medical, municipal, and emergency services, participated in the video conference.
The mock exercise will simulate a powerful 7.7 magnitude earthquake with widespread impact across the state. The scenario will test emergency response systems against large-scale infrastructure damage, fire outbreaks, and landslides.
The drill will also include simulated damage to critical installations such as fuel and gas storage facilities, requiring coordinated fire and rescue operations. Hospitals will be placed on alert to manage a potential surge in casualties, while relief camps, staging areas, and incident response system mechanisms will be activated.
The State Emergency Operations Centre and District Emergency Operations Centres will oversee coordination, and the possibility of aftershocks will also be factored in.
Dimapur: A virtual capacity-building programme was conducted at the video conference hall of the National Informatics Centre at the Deputy Commissioner's office in Dimapur.
The session was chaired by Major General (Retd) Sudhir Bahl, Consultant of the National Disaster Management Authority.
He delivered a presentation on the roles and responsibilities of various line departments during disaster situations and highlighted the importance of preparedness, coordination, and timely response, particularly in the context of earthquake scenarios.
He elaborated on standard operating procedures, communication strategies, and the need for effective collaboration. He also underscored the significance of integrating technology, including the use of the Google Android Earthquake Alert System for early warnings.
The session concluded with remarks from Additional Deputy Commissioner of Dimapur, Dr. Diana Patton, who urged all departments to actively participate and remain prepared.
Chümoukedima: The conference on earthquake disaster preparedness was held at the DC's conference hall in Chümoukedima.
DC Polan John, on the occasion, informed that the district will conduct a tabletop exercise on April 29, followed by a full-scale mock drill on April 30. He urged all departments to participate to ensure proper coordination and clarity of roles.
Stressing the importance of collective responsibility, the DC stated that disaster response involves all departments under the incident response system. He pointed out that engineering and line departments provide machinery for rescue operations, while the transport department facilitates the mobilisation of vehicles, and health institutions play a crucial role in providing emergency medical response.
Referring to a recent tremor experienced in the region, the DC cautioned that the simulated earthquake scenario would be of a much higher magnitude and significantly more destructive. He warned that such a situation could damage critical infrastructure, including communication networks, necessitating alternative systems.
Longleng: The district-level incident response structure members of Longleng, led by DC and Chairman of the DDMA, W Manpai Phom, attended the virtual orientation and coordination meeting at the DPDB hall.
The DC informed the members that the tabletop exercises will be held on April 29 and urged all members to be present.