SDRF teams demonstrated the rescue of a person from a collapsed building in Mon as Nagaland carried out the 8th edition of the Nagaland Emergency Preparedness Exercise (NEPEx) on April 30, 2026, simulating a major earthquake of magnitude 7.7 alongside extreme weather events. The statewide, impact-based drill also included a Civil Defence Air Raid and Black Out exercise, code-named “Operation Night Guard,” run across 10 civil defence towns to simulate a drone attack, structural collapses, fires, casualties and civilian panic.
Major General Sudhir Bahl, Lead Consultant (ME & IRS) at the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), praised the active participation of state departments and agencies during a press conference and debriefing in Kohima. “This year’s mock exercise was a bit different from the previous one, because we had made it impact based,” he said, noting the exercise worked district-wise to estimate casualties and needs for hospital beds, ambulances and other resources.
Planners tested multi-faceted scenarios including multiple landslides that sever surface communications, damage to the airport, harm to dams such as Doyang, and damage to hospitals and buildings. Maj Gen Bahl said the overall district responses were “quite good,” but flagged gaps in telecommunications, urging a stronger role for the telecom department and service providers to maintain connectivity in crises.
The exercise highlighted the coordinated response by the roads and bridges department, the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) and NHIDCL in prioritising lifeline routes after landslides. Bahl also warned that earthquakes can trigger fires at petrol pumps and stressed the need for dedicated fire-response plans and coordination with neighbouring shops and residences to evacuate safely. He said school safety is being addressed but requires further emphasis.
Among the drill’s chief positives, officials cited strong inter-agency synergy, including mobilisation and coordination with the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), Central Armed Police Forces, the Army and the Assam Rifles. Maj Gen Bahl added that trained uniformed volunteers such as NCC cadets would be an asset in disasters and should be better trained and coordinated.
Nagaland Home Commissioner Abhijit Sinha said the mock drill aimed to test the state’s disaster preparedness, raise public awareness, improve management systems and help authorities learn how to handle a major earthquake and extreme-weather emergencies. NEPEx 2026 was organised by the Nagaland State Disaster Management Authority (NSDMA), Home Department, in collaboration with the NDMA and the Union Ministry of Home Affairs.
Original Source: https://www.morungexpress.com/nagaland-nepex-2026-tests-emergency-preparedness-with-impact-based-exercise
Category: Nagaland
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Publish Date: 2026-04-30 23:53:00
