Lucknow — In a major step toward enhancing disaster preparedness, the Uttar Pradesh State Disaster Management Authority (UPSDMA) successfully conducted a State-Level Flood Mock Exercise across 44 districts and 118 flood-prone tehsils of the state.
The exercise was designed to assess the effectiveness and coordination of disaster response systems from village to state level in the event of a flood emergency. The operation was reviewed virtually by UPSDMA Vice Chairperson Lt. Gen. Yogendra Dimri, who joined via video conference from Farrukhabad district.
Key Objectives and Activities:
Lt. Gen. Dimri emphasized that the goal of the mock drill was to evaluate:
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Inter-departmental coordination
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Resource readiness
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Real-time emergency response capabilities at all administrative levels.
Starting early all District Emergency Operations Centres (DEOCs) and local tehsils were connected for coordination. The mock scenarios began at 9:30 AM, simulating five critical flood-related emergencies:
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Inundation of villages
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People trapped on rooftops and trees
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Spread of fake news and rumors
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Capsized boats
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Collapsed roads and bridges
Additionally, mock setups of relief camps, flood outposts, and field hospitals were demonstrated as part of the drill.
From Yojana Bhawan in Lucknow, Brigadier Ravindra Gurung, Senior Advisor to the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), monitored and guided activities via video conferencing across all participating districts and tehsils.
District administrations, police forces, health departments, NDRF/SDRF, and other key agencies actively participated in the exercise, showcasing integrated emergency responses.
Lt. Gen. Dimri was physically present in Farrukhabad district, where he conducted on-ground inspections at the Chachupur Jatpura and Katari Dharmpur areas of Farrukhabad and Amritpur tehsils, respectively.
In the final session, a detailed review was held via video conference from the Collectorate auditorium, where participating districts shared feedback, challenges encountered, and suggestions for future improvements.
This extensive drill marked a crucial step in strengthening the state’s disaster response system, aiming to minimize loss of life and damage during real flood emergencies.
