Dharmanagar: A subdivision-level mock drill on flood management, organised by the local administration at the Haflong Tea Garden area here on Friday, came under scrutiny after the programme failed to begin at its scheduled time, drawing questions from journalists and residents present at the venue.
The drill simulated a scenario involving a tree falling on a road amid heavy storm and rain, severing connectivity. Civil Defence volunteers, Apad Mitra personnel, Fire Service, and PWD staff swiftly cleared the obstruction and demonstrated rescue operations for flood-affected individuals using OBM boats. The “rescued” were given first aid and shifted to a temporary hospital set up at Haflong T.H.S. School ground, with a shelter house also arranged for the displaced.
Disaster Management Officer Tanujit Saha said the drill aimed to test inter-departmental coordination and preparedness, attributing the delay to morning rainfall that slowed team mobilisation. He advised residents to remain calm during actual floods and seek shelter at designated centres, adding that life jackets, boats, and emergency equipment were in place.
However, the delayed start has fuelled public scepticism, with many questioning whether such government-funded exercises genuinely reflect disaster preparedness or merely serve as official formalities, especially given the lapse even in a pre-planned drill.