With an objective to create awareness on disaster preparedness among the citizens and building resilience to disaster in the community, the Meghalaya Civil Defence & Home Guards Department today conducted a mock exercise simulating an earthquake in almost all the districts in Garo Hills region.
This was in continuation with the the year-long celebrations of the 50th Anniversary of Statehood. The department through its district level offices of the Deputy Controller of Civil Defence and the District Home Guards Commandant conducted the exercises with the active participation of the community.
In WestGaro Hills, the exercise was conducted at Sonapara locality of Tura with the participation of the community along with Civil Defence and Home Guards personnel.
Similarly, the mock exercise was conducted at Dabitgittim locality of Baghmara, South Garo Hills District and Arrengre village, Betasing in South West Garo Hills.
Training on search and rescue and first aid was also conducted for civil defence volunteers at Resubelpara and Williamnagar by the office of Deputy Controllers of Civil Defence in East Garo Hills and North Garo Hills Districts.
The department in a statement said it intends to highlight the importance of the safety and welfare of the citizens of the State in times of disasters and war by building disaster resilience in the community and empowering them with lifesaving skills, incident response and planning since they are the first responder in any disaster.
Improving community-based disaster preparedness will also contribute in achieving the Sustainable Development Goal no.13 i.e Climate Action where disaster preparedness is one of the parameters for scoring, the statement added.
