A Mega Mock Exercise & Emergency Drill to combat a major earthquake along with rescue operation procedure was conducted today at 10:30 AM at Aizawl. The various responsible departments working as Incident Response Team under Aizawl District Disaster Management Authority as well as the State and District Emergency Operation Centres were activated. Mr Shivajee Singh, Senior Consultant, NDMA, Government of India supervised the whole operation.

At the Mega Mock Exercise, the earthquake epicenter occurred at Muthi village, 10 kms northeast of Aizawl with a magnitude of 7 Richter Scale at a depth of 30 kms underground. As soon as the District Emergency Operation Centre (DEOC) was alerted at 10:30 AM, the Incident Response Team proceeded immediately to the DEOC. The State level responsible teams also reported promptly at the State EOC. The various responsible teams took up necessary rescue operations according to the Incident Action Plan.

Command Staff and General Staff with their respective responsibilities were appointed under the Incident Response System (IRS), the Chief Secretary being the Responsible Officer at the State level, and the Principal Secretary, DM&R as the Incident Commander. Similarly, Aizawl District Deputy Commissioner Dr Franklin Laltinkhuma and Additional D.C. Pu Lalchungnunga served as Responsible Officer and Incident Commander respectively for Aizawl District. A number of supporting officers were appointed for work distribution such as Operation Section, Planning Section and Logistics Section. Aizawl S.P. Pu C. Laldina was the District Operation Section Chief for the entire rescue operations. At the Mega Mock Exercise, the District Incident Response Team performed their respective duties under the guidance of these Officers.

The damages and casualties caused by the Aizawl earthquake are as follows :-

1.         Landslide & Road Block       :           The damaged PHE water reservoir at Laipuitlang caused major landslide resulting in blockage of highway between Chanmari and Chaltlang; other landslides also blocked roads at Vaivakawn - Temple Square and Republic Veng Kawipui. Traffic Police, PWD and PHED were immediately dispatched to the site under the supervision of Site Incident Commander / Zonal Officer.

 2.         Building Collapse    :     Aizawl Civil Hospital Block B (Blood Bank) and Block H collapsed, and the jam-packed New Market Building was also reduced to rubbles. In addition, 8 school buildings at various localities were also razed to the ground. The injured persons from the building collapse at Civil Hospital were transported to safety. Task Force (Police, Traffic, MPRO, SDRF) under the command of Zonal Officer / Site Incident Commander alongwith equipments were despatched to New Market and Schools for rescue operations.

3.         Fire Outbreak   :   Major fire outbreak occurred at Millennium Centre, School Education Department building, Higher & Technical Education building and Govt. Boys Middle School. Fire & Emergency Services, Traffic, Police and SYS (Adventure Wing) led by Site Incident Commander / Zonal Officer were sent to the site.

 4.         Casualty  :     Death toll amounted to 125, hospitalised 120 and mild injury 317 were recorded. Medical staffs examined the casualties and injured persons triaged accordingly. The severely injured were transported to nearby hospitals (Aizawl Civil Hospital and 4 private hospitals). As these hospitals could not accommodate the casualties, makeshift hospitals were set up at Zotlang Mini Sports complex and College Veng Playground.

5.         Riot :    Due to overcrowding at the Civil Hospital, riots broke out for which the Police had to be summoned.

This Mega Mock Exercise is the biggest Drill ever to be held in Mizoram. State Disaster Management Authority, Aizawl District Management Authority, DC Office, Disaster Management & Rehabilitation Department, Fire & Emergency Services, Police, MPRO, Traffic, PWD, PHED, Helath Department, State disaster Management Force, NDRF (Delta 1 Team, Sakawrtuichhun), Youth Adventure Clubs (SYS Dept), CYMA, private hospitals and other responsible departments under IRS were mobilised. Apart from this, Local Councils (Locality DM Committee), Department officials, New Market and Millennium Centre Authorities, businessmen, school teachers and students also participated in this mega event. More than 600 persons were involved.

This Drill is a significant trial for the State and District Disaster Management Plan. Aizawl, being prone to major earthquake, is one of the most dangerous city in India. Hence, the need for efficient Incident Response Plan and regular drills cannot be overemphasized.