Gonda: As part of efforts to assess flood preparedness and strengthen disaster response mechanisms ahead of the monsoon season, a large-scale mock drill and Exercise-2026 was conducted across three tehsils of Gonda district on Thursday. The major disaster management exercise was held in Godiyan Purwa, a hamlet of Aliparsauli village in the flood-prone Tarabganj tehsil, under the supervision of District Magistrate Priyanka Niranjan.
The mock drill was organized to evaluate the readiness and coordination of various departments, including disaster management, health, revenue, police, and emergency response agencies, in the event of a flood-related crisis.
During the exercise, a simulated emergency scenario involving a person drowning in a river was created. Responding swiftly to the distress call, the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) launched a rescue operation and safely retrieved the victim from the water. The rescued individual was immediately provided first aid by the medical team and transported to a hospital by ambulance. The simulation demonstrated the effectiveness of coordinated emergency response and timely medical intervention.
District Magistrate Priyanka Niranjan personally inspected the mock rescue and relief operations and reviewed the preparedness of various departments. She assessed the availability of boats, life-saving equipment, medical teams, veterinary support units, ration distribution arrangements, animal fodder supplies, and sanitation measures, including anti-epidemic spraying.
Emphasizing the importance of preparedness, the District Magistrate directed officials to ensure that all essential resources are kept ready in advance to deal with any flood-related emergency. She also instructed departments to complete preparations for relief camps and maintain a high level of vigilance throughout the flood season.
“Ensuring the safe evacuation of people from vulnerable areas and providing food, medical assistance, shelter, and other essential services during floods remain the administration’s highest priorities,” she said. She urged all departments to work in close coordination and remain prepared to tackle any emergency effectively.
The exercise witnessed active participation from teams of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), SDRF, Police Department, Health Department, Animal Husbandry Department, Water Resources Department, and local administration. Villagers were also sensitized about safety measures, disaster preparedness, and the importance of following official advisories during emergencies.
The District Magistrate additionally reviewed the list of flood-prone villages, availability of relief materials, operational status of rescue boats, and accessibility of key routes. She directed officials to ensure round-the-clock monitoring at all flood control posts and stressed that no negligence would be tolerated in disaster management efforts.
Among those present during the exercise were Chief Medical Officer Dr. Santlal Patel, Additional District Magistrate Alok Kumar, Sub-Divisional Magistrate (Tarabganj) Pradeep Kumar, the Circle Officer, Tarabganj, Tehsildar, Naib Tehsildar Jai Shankar Singh, Executive Engineer (Flood Division) Jai Singh, District Disaster Expert Rajesh Srivastava, and officials and staff from various departments.
The successful mock drill showcased the district administration’s commitment to disaster preparedness and ensuring the safety of residents in flood-prone areas.
