Stronger coordination needed for disaster response, says Chief Secretary
The Nagaland State Disaster Management Authority (NSDMA) conducted a Table Top Exercise as part of the Nagaland Emergency Preparedness Exercise (NEPEx) 2026 at the State Emergency Operation Centre, Capital Convention Centre, Kohima on April 29.
Chief Secretary and Chairman of the State Executive Committee, Sentiyanger Imchen, IAS, stated that the 8th edition of NEPEx is aimed at assessing stakeholder preparedness, testing and validating standard operating procedures, and strengthening inter-agency coordination across departments for an effective and unified disaster response. He added that the exercise will also evaluate critical systems, identify gaps and challenges, and enhance community preparedness and resilience.
He informed that a major earthquake scenario of magnitude 7.7 on the Richter scale will be simulated during the field exercise, expected to cause severe infrastructure damage, communication breakdowns, and pressure on healthcare systems, along with secondary hazards such as landslides and fires.
He urged departments to focus on identifying gaps rather than performance, stating, “Disaster preparedness is a continuous and evolving process, and such exercises help strengthen systems and response mechanisms.”
Lead Consultant (ME & IRS), National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), Maj. Gen. Sudhir Bahl, said the exercise is designed to promote a whole-of-government approach. He noted that the simulation will involve participation from all districts, with select sites activated to test response strategies under realistic conditions.
Home Commissioner Abhijit Sinha, IAS, stressed the importance of coordination and preparedness, saying that effective disaster response depends on collective action and strong communication among departments. He urged participants to treat the exercise seriously and use it to strengthen systems rather than demonstrate perfection.
The technical session included a review of earlier mock exercise findings and a presentation on the Disaster Management Plan by Dr. Johnny Kadunsin Ruangmei, Joint CEO, NSDMA. This was followed by the Table Top Exercise and final coordination discussions for NEPEx 2026.
