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 29th April 2026.
Chief Secretary & Chairman of the State Executive Committee, Sentiyanger Imchen, IAS stated that the 8th Edition NEPEx core objectives is to assess the preparedness of stakeholders and to test and validate standard operating procedures (SOPs). It also seeks to strengthen inter agency coordination across various departments to ensure a more effective and unified response during disasters, he added.
He further informed that the exercise will evaluate the functioning of critical systems, identify existing gaps and challenges and enhance community preparedness and awareness for better disaster response and resilience.
Informing about the upcoming field exercise, he said that a major earthquake scenario of magnitude 7.7 on the Richter scale will be simulated, which is expected to cause extensive damage to infrastructure, disrupt communication networks and overwhelm healthcare systems, while also triggering secondary incidents such as landslides and fires.
He emphasized that the exercise will involve coordinated participation from multiple agencies, including district administrations, security forces, paramilitary units, healthcare providers, urban local bodies, village councils, NGOs, and church organizations.
Stressing the importance of honest evaluation, the Chief Secretary urged all departments and districts to candidly identify gaps and challenges rather than focusing on performance. He noted that disaster preparedness is a continuous and evolving process, and such exercises provide valuable opportunities to strengthen systems and improve response mechanisms.
He further suggested that while earthquake simulations remain crucial for the State, future exercises could also incorporate other disaster scenarios to enhance overall preparedness.
Addressing officials and participants, Lead Consultant (ME & IRS), National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) Maj. Gen. Bahl highlighted that the table top exercise is aimed at strengthening synergy among various departments and adopting a whole of government approach in disaster response. He noted that disaster management is not the responsibility of a single agency but requires collective effort and coordination across all sectors.
He informed that this year’s mock exercise is based on a large-scale earthquake scenario, designed to simulate realistic conditions including potential casualties and infrastructural damage. The exercise, he said, will help assess the preparedness levels of departments and identify gaps in response mechanisms.
Maj. Gen. Bahl further stated that while the simulation will involve participation from all districts, only five to six sites in each district will be activated for practical reasons. These sites will represent different types of emergency situations to test response strategies and validate preparedness plans discussed during the sessions.
He encouraged participants to actively engage in the exercise, stressing that it is an opportunity to evaluate systems, improve coordination, and enhance overall disaster response capabilities.
Home Commissioner Abhijit Sinha, IAS, emphasized the importance of preparedness and coordinated response during emergencies while delivering his opening remarks
He stated that ensuring public safety and effective coordination remains a key responsibility of the Home Department, especially in the face of increasing and unpredictable disasters driven by climate change. He highlighted that preparedness goes beyond having plans in place and requires strong synergy among departments, as effective disaster response depends on collective action and resource sharing.
Sinha noted that the exercise provides an opportunity for departments and agencies to review procedures, clarify command and control mechanisms and improve communication and decision making during emergencies. He urged all participants to approach the exercise with seriousness and discipline, stressing that the objective is not to demonstrate perfection but to identify gaps and strengthen systems.
He also acknowledged the efforts of the NSDMA in organizing NEPEx and expressed confidence that the exercise would lead to constructive outcomes in enhancing the State’s disaster preparedness.
The technical session featured an update on previous mock exercise observations along with a presentation on the Disaster Management Plan by Dr. Johnny Kadunsin Ruangmei, Joint Chief Executive Officer, NSDMA. This was followed by a Table Top Exercise led by Maj. Gen. Sudhir Bahl, focusing on response to simulated disaster scenarios and departmental preparedness. The session also included final coordination discussions for the upcoming mock exercise under NEPEx 2026.
(Esuihangle IA)
