Guwahati’s IIT campus transformed into a flood-ravaged zone as the Indian Army rolled out ‘Exercise Jal Rahat,’ a comprehensive simulation to sharpen flood relief operations. Spearheaded by the Red Horns Division (Gajraj Corps), the Saturday event united NDRF, SDRF, SSB, and military personnel in a display of seamless teamwork.
Realistic scenarios mimicked Assam’s brutal monsoons: rescuers navigated submerged areas with inflatable boats, airlifted mock victims using harnesses, and utilized drones for real-time mapping. The focus was on rapid assessment, extraction of the vulnerable, and immediate medical aid, reflecting lessons from past disasters.
GOC Lt Gen Neeraj Shukla lauded the exercise for promoting coordination among forces. ‘Disaster management demands collective resolve—anticipate risks, prepare rigorously, protect lives, and provision resources,’ he urged. He stressed community involvement to enhance overall resilience against nature’s fury.
The event drew a diverse audience of 800, from students to officials, fostering public confidence in emergency systems. Commitments were made for ongoing drills and procedural refinements to fortify Assam’s defenses.
With floods claiming hundreds of lives yearly in the Brahmaputra basin, this exercise underscores the urgency of proactive measures. By integrating technology and human effort, ‘Jal Rahat’ paves the way for life-saving efficiency in crisis situations.
