Delhi-NCR Set to Conduct Inaugural Mega Mock Disaster Drill 'Suraksha Chakra' on August 1

In an unprecedented move to boost emergency response readiness, the National Capital Region (NCR) is set to conduct its first mega-scale mock disaster drill on August 1. Dubbed 'Suraksha Chakra', the exercise will simulate various disaster scenarios, including earthquakes and industrial and chemical hazards, across 55 sites in 11 districts of Delhi.

Coordinated by the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), the drill will see the involvement of numerous agencies such as the Delhi Disaster Management Authority (DDMA), the Indian Army’s Western Command, Headquarters Delhi Area, and the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF). Additional support will come from the Delhi Police, civil defense, fire services, and health and transport departments, with disaster management teams from Uttar Pradesh and Haryana also participating.

Prior to the main event, a stakeholder symposium is scheduled for July 29, followed by table-top exercises on July 30 at Delhi’s Manekshaw Centre. These sessions will focus on strategic discussions to enhance coordinated response strategies in the region.

Lt Gen (Retd) Syed Ata Hasnain, a member of the NDMA, emphasized that the drill represents the government’s comprehensive approach to disaster resilience. He highlighted that the Delhi-NCR area is particularly at risk from earthquakes and complex urban disasters, making such preparedness activities crucial.

Krishan Kumar, CEO of the DDMA, announced that on August 1, citizens should prepare for an increased presence of police, fire, and emergency vehicles throughout the city. He advised the public to remain calm and consider the event a standard safety measure.

In addition to Delhi, the mock drill will extend to two districts in Uttar Pradesh, namely Noida and Ghaziabad, and five districts in Haryana, including Gurugram, Faridabad, Palwal, Nuh, and Rewari.

Lt Gen Hasnain noted that the exercise would also involve simulations for chemical and fire incidents, focusing on resource mapping and response coordination. The results from the drill are expected to reveal deficiencies in the current system and contribute to the development of more effective disaster response strategies.

Over the past five years, the NDMA has conducted more than 200 mock disaster drills across India. Union Home Minister Amit Shah has mandated that such exercises occur in every district nationwide once every three years to enhance local capabilities.

The Suraksha Chakra drill aims to bolster the disaster management framework in Delhi-NCR, ensuring that emergency services are better equipped to protect lives and property in potential real-world disaster scenarios.