The agenda was to finalise preparations for a large-scale civil defence mock drill to be conducted nationwide on May 7. The exercise aims to enhance disaster readiness, coordination, and public awareness in dealing with emergencies.

New Delhi, May 6: As part of a renewed emphasis on disaster preparedness, a key meeting was held today at the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) in the national capital, attended by several top-ranking officials. The meeting, chaired by Union Home Secretary Govind Mohan, focused on the final preparations for the nationwide Civil Defence mock drills scheduled for May 7, 2025.

Among the prominent attendees were the Director General of Civil Defence, the Director General of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), and senior officers from the National Institute of Disaster Management (NIDM), NDMA, and State-level disaster management authorities.

This meeting comes amid increasing emphasis on bolstering India's resilience to natural and man-made disasters, particularly in urban and industrial zones prone to earthquakes, floods, fires, and chemical hazards.

"The mock drills are not just simulations but strategic tools to assess ground-level preparedness, inter-agency coordination, and the public's response mechanism," said a senior official after the closed-door session.

The Union Home Secretary emphasised the importance of involving district authorities, local civil defence volunteers, emergency medical services, police forces, and school institutions in the drill to ensure a "whole-of-society" approach to disaster management.

The drills will be conducted simultaneously across various states and union territories, with scenarios ranging from fire evacuations in high-rise buildings to flood rescue operations and response to chemical leakages in industrial clusters.

Additionally, the exercise will be monitored in real-time through MHA’s National Emergency Response Centre (NERC). Reports and assessments from each region will be compiled to evaluate performance, identify gaps, and revise protocols where necessary.

This proactive initiative by the Ministry of Home Affairs reinforces the Government’s commitment to a disaster-resilient India, especially in the wake of recent climate-induced calamities and increasing urban vulnerabilities.

The mock drill on May 7 will also mark the first coordinated national exercise post the 2024 National Disaster Resilience Strategy announcement, further integrating civil defence efforts with disaster response mechanisms at the grassroots level.