The Meghalaya State Disaster Management Authority will conduct a state level mock exercise on October 12 across Meghalaya from 9 am to simulate the massive 1897 earthquake that devastated parts of what is now Meghalaya and the response of the authorities.
District officials, armed and paramilitary forces, National and State Disaster Response Forces, police, fire and emergency service, hospitals, schools and colleges, Red Cross, Scouts and Guides, etc will take part.
In view of the drill, in which many rescue parties, ambulances and other responders will participate, the general public have been advised not to panic but to cooperate with the arrangements made by the government and plan their travel accordingly.
Members of the National Disaster Management Authority will oversee the exercise. Prior to the mock drill, a series of training programmes for government officials will have been conducted. Tomorrow will witness one such, a ‘table top’ exercise at the State Convention Centre here.
To start the drill on October 12, a siren will sound, which will be the indication that an earthquake has occurred. In East Khasi Hills, identified locations for affected sites comprise Polo and the road from Polo to Wahingdoh, Polo Supermarket, shops in and around the Polo area, Hotel Polo Towers, SBI building, MeECL Lumjingshai, Samkhamti petrol pump at Urkaliar, Female Health Worker Training School, School of Nursing, Ganesh Das Hospital, St Xavier’s School in Polo, Pynthorumkhrah Golflink Secondary School, Shillong Secondary School and Civil Hospital School of Nursing.
Facilities required for the purpose of the drill, like medical camp, staging area, relief camp, incident command post, base camp, etc, will be set up in Polo at the SRGT parking lot and near Third Ground.
