Odisha to Conduct State-Level Mock Exercise on Chemical & Industrial Disaster Management

Bhubaneswar: In a proactive move to enhance disaster preparedness, the Odisha government, in collaboration with the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), will conduct a State-level Mock Exercise on Chemical & Industrial Disaster Management on February 28, 2025. The exercise will take place across 24 industrial locations in 16 districts, including Angul, Dhenkanal, Balasore, Bhadrak, Cuttack, Ganjam, Jagatsinghpur, Jajpur, Khurda, Koraput, Rayagada, Bolangir, Sambalpur, Jharsuguda, Sundergarh, and Mayurbhanj.

The primary objective of the mock drill is to streamline emergency response, review disaster management plans, and develop Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) to strengthen resource management, emergency communications, and first-response capabilities. It also aims to identify gaps in planning, manpower deployment, and public awareness in handling chemical and industrial disasters.

As a precursor to the main exercise, a Table Top Exercise (TTEx) was conducted on February 25, 2025, via virtual mode from the State Emergency Operation Centre (SEOC) in Bhubaneswar. The TTEx brought together district administrations from 16 districts, representatives from identified industries, and various state and central government agencies to assess existing SOPs, response capabilities, and resource availability.

The TTEx was jointly chaired by Dr. Kamal Lochan Mishra, Executive Director of Odisha State Disaster Management Authority (OSDMA), and Padmanav Behera, Additional Special Relief Commissioner. The session was guided by NDMA’s Aditya Kumar, Commandant (Retd.), while NDMA Member Lt. General Syed Ata Hasnain addressed the participants virtually from New Delhi.

At SEOC, key representatives from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), Indian Army, Indian Air Force, Indian Navy, CISF, Odisha Police, State Forensic Science Laboratory, Fire & Emergency Services, ODRAF, Civil Defense, State Pollution Control Board, and the Health & Family Welfare Department participated in the discussions. Additionally, district-level officials, including Collectors, Additional District Magistrates (ADMs), District Emergency Officers, and representatives from line departments and industrial units, actively engaged in the exercise. The Indian Coast Guard, INS Chilika, and various State Government Departments also joined the TTEx virtually from their respective locations.

The session focused on various disaster scenarios, preparatory measures, and the execution of the mock exercise to ensure a coordinated response mechanism. The upcoming full-scale drill on February 28 will serve as a crucial test of Odisha’s preparedness in managing chemical and industrial disasters effectively, reinforcing its commitment to public safety and disaster resilience.