Dehradun:Arunoday times
With the onset of the monsoon season, the Uttarakhand government has intensified its disaster preparedness efforts. A state-level monsoon mock drill was conducted across all 13 districts on Thursday to assess the readiness of emergency response agencies. Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami personally monitored the exercise from the State Emergency Operations Centre and reviewed the preparedness of various departments. 
The mock drill simulated disaster scenarios such as floods, cloudbursts, heavy rainfall, landslides, and road blockages. The objective was to evaluate the coordination among different agencies and ensure a swift and effective response during real emergencies.
Multi-Agency Participation
The exercise witnessed the participation of the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), Police, Health Department, Fire Services, Public Works Department (PWD), Power Department, Irrigation Department, and district administrations. Rescue teams carried out simulated operations, including evacuating stranded people, providing first aid to the injured, establishing relief camps, and restoring communication networks.
‘Response Time is Critical’: CM Dhami
Reviewing the mock drill, Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami emphasized that response time is the most critical factor during any disaster. He instructed officials to ensure that rescue and relief operations begin immediately after an emergency is reported and that assistance reaches affected people without delay.
He said the state government is committed to strengthening Uttarakhand’s disaster management system by making maximum use of modern technology and advanced resources. With the India Meteorological Department forecasting above-normal rainfall this monsoon, all departments have been directed to remain on high alert.
Special Focus on Char Dham Yatra
The Chief Minister highlighted that lakhs of pilgrims are currently visiting Uttarakhand for the Char Dham Yatra, making their safety the government’s top priority. He said continuous monitoring is being carried out along the pilgrimage routes, and additional arrangements have been made at vulnerable locations.
He also appealed to pilgrims to plan their journeys only after checking weather forecasts and advisories issued by the Meteorological and Disaster Management Departments.
Mock Drill Helps Identify Gaps
Disaster Management Minister Madan Kaushik said the primary objective of the exercise was to strengthen inter-departmental coordination. Since disaster response involves multiple agencies working together, such drills help identify operational gaps and improve preparedness before actual emergencies occur.
Disaster Management Secretary Vinod Kumar Suman stated that several high-level review meetings had already been held before the monsoon season, and detailed instructions had been issued to district administrations and concerned departments. Thursday’s drill was aimed at testing the real-time response capability and coordination of all agencies.
Government Claims Full Preparedness
Uttarakhand has witnessed significant loss of life and property in recent years due to heavy rainfall, cloudbursts, and landslides. Learning from these experiences, the state government says it has strengthened its disaster response mechanism ahead of this year’s monsoon.
The simultaneous mock drills across all 13 districts, monitored directly by the Chief Minister, underscore the government’s effort to ensure that disaster response teams remain fully prepared to tackle any emergency during the monsoon season.
