ITANAGAR, SEP 28:
The Department of Disaster Management, Government of Arunachal Pradesh, conducted a three-day hospital mock exercise across five major hospitals in the Itanagar Capital Region (ICR) to strengthen disaster preparedness and emergency response mechanisms in healthcare institutions.
The earthquake-based multi-hazard exercise was conducted at RK Mission Hospital, Heema Hospital, Hormin Hospital, Niba Hospital and Tomo Riba Institute of Health and Medical Sciences (TRIHMS), Naharlagun, from September 25 to 28.
The exercise involved the Directorate of Health Services (DHS), 12 Battalion National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), Fire and Emergency Services, Aapda Mitra volunteers, State Emergency Operation Centre (SEOC), Health Emergency Operation Centre (HEOC) and participating hospitals, demonstrating coordinated multi-agency disaster response.
Based on a simulated magnitude 7.3 earthquake scenario, the exercise involved cascading emergencies including structural damage, fire incidents, patient evacuation and a sudden surge of casualties requiring emergency medical care. It aimed to test Hospital Disaster Management Plans (HDMPs), assess emergency response procedures, strengthen inter-departmental coordination and enhance preparedness for large-scale disasters.
The exercise was conducted in three phases. A coordination meeting and review of HDMPs were held on September 3, followed by a Tabletop Exercise on September 22. The final phase comprised full-scale ground execution from September 25 to 28, involving realistic emergency response operations at the participating hospitals.
The ground exercise included activation of the Hospital Incident Management System, patient evacuation, fire response, search and rescue coordination, mass casualty management and communication among responding agencies.
The exercise was conducted under the supervision of Deputy Director, Department of Disaster Management, Papang Duggong, assisted by District Disaster Management Officer Jogam Angu. State Nodal Officer for Health Disaster Management Dr Dukam Taipodia and Alternate State Nodal Officer Health (DM) Dr Marto Riram served as resource persons and observers. External observers from 12 Battalion NDRF also monitored the exercise and provided technical observations on emergency response procedures.
During the earlier coordination meeting, Director of Disaster Management Marto Riba urged hospital authorities to actively participate in the exercise, stressing that preparedness is essential to saving lives during major emergencies. He noted that Arunachal Pradesh falls under Seismic Zone V and emphasised the need for regular preparedness exercises to ensure hospitals can respond effectively to earthquakes and other disasters while maintaining critical healthcare services.
The exercise builds on the department’s efforts to strengthen hospital preparedness. In 2025, the Department of Disaster Management, in collaboration with GeoHazards Society, New Delhi, conducted a three-day training programme on preparation of Hospital Disaster Management Plans for general, district and private hospitals in the ICR.
The training laid the foundation for developing and strengthening hospital disaster management plans, which were subsequently tested through the present exercise.
The department said the exercise marked another step towards building resilient healthcare institutions and strengthening coordinated emergency response systems across Arunachal Pradesh. (DIPR)
