Itanagar, Sep 28 : The Department of Disaster Management conducted a three-day Hospital Mock Exercise across five major hospitals in the Itanagar Capital Region to strengthen disaster preparedness and emergency response mechanisms in healthcare institutions.
The earthquake-based multi-hazard mock exercise was conducted at R.K. Mission Hospital, Heema Hospital, Hormin Hospital, Niba Hospital, and Tomo Riba Institute of Health and Medical Sciences (TRIHMS), Naharlagun, from September 25-28.
The exercise witnessed active participation from the Directorate of Health Services (DHS), 12 Battalion National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), Fire and Emergency Services, Aapda Mitra Volunteers, State Emergency Operation Centre (SEOC), Health Emergency Operation Centre (HEOC), and the participating hospitals, demonstrating a coordinated multi-agency approach to disaster management.
The mock exercise was designed around a magnitude 7.3 earthquake scenario, simulating multiple cascading emergencies, including structural damage to hospital buildings, fire incidents, patient evacuation, and a sudden surge of earthquake casualties requiring emergency medical care. The exercise was aimed at testing the effectiveness of Hospital Disaster Management Plans (HDMPs), strengthening inter-departmental coordination, assessing hospital emergency response procedures, and enhancing preparedness for large-scale disasters.
The programme was conducted in three phases. The Coordination Meeting and review of Hospital Disaster Management Plans (HDMPs) were held on September 3, followed by a Tabletop Exercise on September 22 to assess decision-making and inter-agency coordination. The final phase comprised Full-scale Ground Execution from September 25-28, involving realistic emergency response operations at the participating hospitals.
The ground exercise included activation of the Hospital Incident Management System, patient evacuation, fire response, search and rescue coordination, mass casualty management, and communication among all responding agencies.
The exercise was conducted under the supervision and direction of Papang Duggong, Deputy Director, Department of Disaster Management, assisted by Jogam Angu, District Disaster Management Officer. Dr. Dukam Taipodia, State Nodal Officer for Health Disaster Management, and Dr. Marto Riram, Alternate State Nodal Officer Health (DM), served as resource persons and observers throughout the exercise. External observers from 12 Battalion NDRF monitored the conduct of the exercise and provided professional observations on emergency response procedures.
Earlier, during the coordination meeting, Marto Riba, Director of Disaster Management, exhorted the hospital authorities to actively cooperate and participate in the mock exercise, emphasizing that preparedness is the key to saving lives during major emergencies. He highlighted that Arunachal Pradesh falls under Seismic Zone V, making regular preparedness exercises essential for ensuring that hospitals remain capable of responding effectively to earthquakes and other disasters while maintaining continuity of critical healthcare services.
The exercise builds upon the Department's sustained efforts to strengthen hospital preparedness. Earlier, in 2025, the Department of Disaster Management, in collaboration with the GeoHazards Society, New Delhi, conducted a three-day training programme on the "Preparation of Hospital Disaster Management Plans" for General Hospitals, District Hospitals, and Private Hospitals in the Itanagar Capital Region. The training laid the foundation for developing and strengthening hospital disaster management plans, which were subsequently tested and validated through the present mock exercise.
The successful completion of the Hospital Mock Exercise marks another significant step by the Department of Disaster Management towards building resilient healthcare institutions and strengthening coordinated emergency response systems across Arunachal Pradesh.

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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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