Arunachal conducts civil defence mock drills amid rising national security concerns

Our correspondent

Itanagar: In a robust show of disaster preparedness following the recent terror attack in Pahalgam, Arunachal Pradesh conducted civil defence mock drills across five towns on Wednesday.

The drills, directed by the union Home Ministry to boost national emergency readiness, took place in the state capital Itanagar, Aalo (West Siang), Hayuliang (Anjaw), Bomdila (West Kameng), and the border district of Tawang.

At the forefront of this initiative was Tawang, where a comprehensive mock drill demonstrated the district’s capability to respond to large-scale emergencies, including simulated airstrikes.

The exercise covered four key locations, Khandro Drowa Zangmo district hospital, ANM school, L D public school, and Masang Dung Rhuemey in Old Market. The drill saw the active participation of the district police, fire brigade, health department, Indian Army, SSB, ITBP, NDRF, NCC cadets, NSS volunteers from Dorjee Khandu Government College, members of the district BJP unit, market welfare committees, and the district students’ union, an official statement said. In-charge deputy commissioner Sangey Wangmu Mosobi, addressing participants prior to the drill, praised the quick mobilisation and underlined the seriousness of such simulations. “Though this is a mock drill, we must remain vigilant and take it seriously to ensure we are prepared for real-life emergencies. Our objective is to minimise damage to life and property by preparing for the worst with our best efforts,” she said.

Tawang superintendent of police Dr D W Thongon briefed participants on the simulated scenario, a mock airstrike targeting a building in Old Market, and explained the coordinated response involving an incident commander, marshaling areas, makeshift hospital, emergency control room, safe house, and communication network.

The exercise concluded with a debriefing session chaired by the deputy commissioner, focusing on lessons learned and identifying areas for improvement.

The mock drill reinforced inter-agency coordination and highlighted the community’s readiness to face disasters, particularly in a strategically sensitive area bordering China. Similar exercises are also underway at Itanagar, Bomdila and Hayuliang respectively, officials informed.

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