In a high-stakes meeting at Patna, Bihar State Disaster Management Authority (BSDMA) rolled out a tabletop exercise to gear up for earthquake mock drills across its most earthquake-prone districts. Dr. Uday Kant Mishra presided over the event, with BSDMA members P.N. Rai, N.K. Singh, Prakash Kumar, and Shambhu Datt Jha in attendance.
Guiding the proceedings was Retired Major General Sudhir Bahl from NDMA, who reviewed strategies for the impending physical exercises. He scrutinized preparations, coordination frameworks, and SOPs, delivering key suggestions to plug vulnerabilities.
The session was more than a formality—it was a strategic platform to audit resources, uncover flaws before real drills, and implement fixes. Drawing from flood disaster takeaways, Joint Secretary Nadeemul Gaffar Siddiqui delivered a comprehensive presentation on earthquake mock drill blueprints.
Participants included administrators and technical experts from Patna, Supaul, Madhubani, Sitamarhi, West Champaran, Darbhanga, East Champaran, Siwan, Saran, Gopalganj, Muzaffarpur, Vaishali, Sheohar, Samastipur, Araria, Kishanganj, Madhepura, Saharsa, Purnia, Katihar, Munger, Begusarai, and Khagaria. Forces like SSB, CRPF, ITBP, CISF, along with SDRF UP, CoEadM-DMI, and IMD, joined to align efforts.
The group delved into seismic event response plans, asset availability, cross-departmental teamwork, and agency responsibilities. Potential hurdles were identified, with precise guidelines set for resolution.
This collaborative push enhances Bihar’s disaster framework, promoting seamless collaboration among agencies. In a state long shadowed by seismic risks, such drills are lifelines, poised to transform potential tragedy into managed response.