Tarun Karthick
Port Blair, 01 February 2023
Andaman & Nicobar Islands are prone to Geological and Hydro-meteorological disasters and are located in one of the most seismically active parts of the world, several great earthquakes have occurred in the past. Andaman & Nicobar Islands run accurately parallel to the boundary separating the Australian and Eurasian plates in the Indian Ocean that are continuously jostling with each other. These Islands are mostly susceptible to very high intensity of seismicity and as per the seismic zoning map of India contained in IS 1893 -1984, Islands are classified in seismic Zone – V.
The A&N Administration in coordination with National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) will be conducting UT/ State Level Mock Exercise (ME) on Earthquake followed by Tsunami Disaster scenario which will be held in all Districts/ Sub-Divisions/Tehsils/Islands of Andaman and Nicobar Islands on 9th February 2023.
For the smooth conduct of the proposed Mock Exercise, an orientation and coordination conference was held on 31st January 2023, in virtual mode which was conducted by Maj. Genl. Sudhir Bahl (Retd.), Sr. Consultant, NDMA, MHA, New Delhi and was chaired by Mr. A.S.P.S. Ravi Prakash, IAS, Secretary (Disaster Management), A&N Administration on behalf of A&N Administration and also attended by Dr. Nitin Shakya, Director (Disaster Management) along with other stakeholders viz. A&N Command, INCOIS, Indian Coast Guard (AN), 04th Bn NDRF Arrakkonam, CGM BSNL, all Deputy Commissioners and Nodal Officers of all Department/ Stakeholders.
The Sr. Consultant (NDMA) briefed about the conduct & preparation of the Mock Exercise at the UT & District level and outlined modalities and preparation required for the proposed Mock Exercise. He also discussed the overall scenarios for the mock exercise, considering the vulnerability of this UT and also evaluated various scenarios/simulations expected in each District/ Islands participating in the Mock Exercise in coordination with the Union Territory Disaster Management Authority (UTDMA).