The  mock drill on earthquake disaster organized in Nirjuli market area last Thursday which has seen a considerable participation  by the common people have shown that there is keenness among them to learn the survival tactics to face the aftermath of this natural disaster.
Natural disasters are a part of human life since time immemorial and among all of them earthquakes are perhaps the worsts where the scale of deaths and damages are severe. We cannot prevent them, and as minnows in front of nature we can only pray for the safety of our near and dear ones and for lesser destructions. But things have changed for the better and now very recent instances have shown that these can be considerably reduced by better preparedness and awareness. Here it’s a partnership between science & technology and management. In other words disaster management is now more efficacious with scientific & technical interventions.
This kind of awareness efforts are necessary because of the fact that about 58 % of the country’s land mass is vulnerable from moderate to severe seismic hazards and the Indian subcontinent has a history of devastating earthquakes. The major reason given by the scientists for this high frequency and intensity of the earthquakes is that the Indian plate is driving into Asia at an alarming rate of approximately 47 mm per year. A World Bank and United Nations report also estimates that around 200 million city dwellers in India will be exposed to storms and earthquakes by 2050.
Northeast and Arunachal Pradesh experiences quite a dozen of earthquakes every year and all districts of the state lie in Zone V of seismic chart which effectively means the state is not only under the highest risk zone but also it is a part of a very high damage risk zone. The major one that everybody remembers is that which occurred on August 15,1950 , better known as “Independence Day” earthquake. Although it hit in a mountainous region along the border with China, 1500+  people were killed and the drainage of the region was greatly affected.
The core idea behind  disaster preparedness is to be always ready for an earthquake and coordinated mock drills form an important aspect of this subject which has now even evolved as a career altogether. These drills  are of crucial importance as they provide experience and a sense of competence which are necessary if a real disaster strikes. They allow the would be victims to find and iron out the problems that can pop up by learning the essential technicalities. More importantly it infuses a mental strength to face those tough times.
There’s no way out except to keep preparing to face the savage nature’s wrath. It’s a homework which is inescapable.

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Kenter Joya Riba

(Managing Editor)
      She is a graduate in Science with post graduation in Sociology from University of Pune. She has been in the media industry for nearly a decade. Before turning to print business, she has been associated with radio and television.
Email: kenterjoyaz@easternsentinel.in / editoreasternsentinel@gmail.com
Phone: 0360-2212313

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