Agartala, July 08: A mega disaster preparedness drill focusing on landslides and floods will be conducted across the state on July 9. The main state-level drill will be held in Agartala, with the staging area set at the Multipurpose Hall of the Hapania Fair Ground, said District Magistrate of West Tripura district Dr Vishal Kumar on Tuesday.
Addressing a press conference here at Agartala, the DM said 12 locations across West Tripura district have been identified for the drill. Mock drills simulating landslides will take place at the Don Bosco School grounds in Mandai Block, Satish Brick Field in Behala Bari Block, and at Subal Singh in Hejamara Block, he added.
He mentioned that flood response drills will be conducted at several locations including – Purba Noagaon, Barjala Binapani Higher Secondary School, Gamcha Cobra Village, Rangachhara Panchayat, Lake near Bhagalpur Gram Panchayat, Anandanagar Boat Park, Vidyasagar Lake, MBB College Lake, Premises of IGM Hospital.
The District Magistrate noted that Tripura witnessed severe floods and multiple landslides in August 2024. To better prepare for such natural disasters, this mega mock drill has been organized. He urged the public not to panic, emphasizing that this is only a simulation and all aspects will be carefully controlled.
He also mentioned that a state-level tabletop exercise was held earlier today at the West Tripura DM’s Conference Hall as part of the preparation. Retired Major General Sudhir Bahel from the National Disaster Management Authority, Dr. Vishal Kumar, and senior officials from both state and central security forces, as well as various departments, participated in the preparatory meeting.