Una, June 15: The 10th state-level mega mock drill was successfully conducted in Una district to evaluate disaster management and rapid relief-and-rescue mechanisms. Held under the guidelines of the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) and the Himachal Pradesh State Disaster Management Authority (HPSDMA), this exercise comprehensively tested the district administration's preparedness, resources, and inter-departmental coordination in handling various natural and man-made disasters.
The objective of the drill was to establish better synergy among various departments during a disaster, strengthen rapid response capabilities, and evaluate the effectiveness of relief and rescue operations. Major General Sudhir Bahl (Retd.), Senior Consultant at the NDMA, oversaw the mega mock drill via video conferencing. Senior officials from the HPSDMA and officers associated with the State Disaster Response System also participated virtually from the state level.
At the district level, Assistant Commissioner (Una) Vinay Modi and Assistant Commandant Pawan Kumar (14th Battalion NDRF, Nurpur), along with officials from the District Disaster Management Authority (DDMA) and the Incident Response System (IRS), were present. They shared detailed information regarding the exercises conducted at five simulation sites established across the district.

**Realistic Disaster Scenarios Created Across Five Sub-divisions**
As part of the mega mock drill, five distinct disaster scenarios mirroring real-life situations were successfully executed across various sub-divisions of the district.
By 4:30 PM, a drill simulating building damage and a fire in the petroleum storage area was conducted at the IOCL LPG Bottling Plant in Raipur Sahodan (near the Una district headquarters). Additionally, relief and rescue operations were carried out based on a combined scenario involving landslides and flash floods in Amb. A fire incident caused by a fuel leak at a petrol pump in Gagret was successfully managed, while a live drill simulating a building collapse and fire resulting from an earthquake was conducted at an industrial unit in Bela Bathri, Haroli. Meanwhile, a drill to tackle the challenging conditions of a forest fire is scheduled for the Hathlaun area of ??Bangana subdivision later in the evening.

**Various Departments Played a Pivotal Role**
The Home Guards, Fire Department, 1st IRB, Health and Medical Department, Police, Food and Civil Supplies Department, Jal Shakti Department, Public Works Department, Indian Oil Corporation, and approximately 60 trained 'Aapda Mitra' volunteers actively participated in the exercise. All teams demonstrated their competence and readiness by executing relief and rescue operations within the stipulated timeframes.

**Observers Commended the District Administration's Efficiency**
At the conclusion of the exercise, national and state-level observers praised the Una district administration for its rapid response, effective resource utilization, and excellent inter-departmental coordination. They noted that such exercises play a crucial role in ensuring better management during actual disasters.
Expressing gratitude to all departments, the NDRF, HPSDMA, NDMA, and 'Aapda Mitra' volunteers, Assistant Commissioner Vinay Modi stated that such mock drills strengthen the disaster management mechanism and contribute significantly to ensuring the safety of life and property during emergencies. He added that the district administration would continue its efforts to further bolster disaster management preparedness in the future.