Itanagar, September 28: The Department of Disaster Management, Government of Arunachal Pradesh, successfully 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, on September 25, 26 and 28, 2026.
The exercise saw 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. The participation demonstrated a coordinated multi-agency approach to disaster management and emergency response.
The mock exercise was based on a simulated magnitude 7.3 earthquake scenario involving 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 aimed to test the effectiveness of Hospital Disaster Management Plans (HDMPs), strengthen inter-departmental coordination and assess hospital emergency response procedures during large-scale disasters.
The programme was conducted in three phases. A coordination meeting and review of Hospital Disaster Management Plans were held on September 3, followed by a Tabletop Exercise on September 22 to assess decision-making and inter-agency coordination. The final phase involved full-scale ground execution from September 25 to 28, with realistic emergency response operations carried out 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 responding agencies. The activities were designed to assess the ability of hospitals and emergency agencies to work together during a major disaster while maintaining essential healthcare services.
The exercise was conducted under the supervision and direction of Deputy Director, Department of Disaster Management, Papang Duggong, assisted by District Disaster Management Officer Jogam Angu. 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. External observers from 12 Battalion NDRF also monitored the exercise and provided observations on emergency response procedures.
During the earlier coordination meeting, Director of Disaster Management Marto Riba urged hospital authorities to actively participate in the mock exercise and stressed the importance of preparedness in saving lives during major emergencies. He noted that Arunachal Pradesh falls under Seismic Zone V, making regular disaster preparedness exercises important for ensuring that hospitals can respond effectively to earthquakes and other emergencies while maintaining continuity of critical healthcare services.
The exercise builds on the Department of Disaster Management’s ongoing efforts to strengthen hospital preparedness in the state. In 2025, the department, in collaboration with 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 provided the foundation for developing and strengthening hospital disaster management plans, which were subsequently tested and validated through the latest mock exercise. The successful completion of the exercise marks another step towards strengthening resilient healthcare institutions and coordinated emergency response systems across Arunachal Pradesh.
