Ramban: To enhance community preparedness and response during emergencies, the District Administration Ramban, in collaboration with the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), Saturday conducted a training session-cum-mock drill as part of the 2nd Civil Defense Exercise – “Operation Shield.” The Mock Drill Exercise was held at Government Model Higher Secondary School (GMHSS) under the supervision of Deputy Commissioner Ramban, Baseer-Ul-Haq Chaudhary and was presided over by Additional Deputy Commissioner (ADC) Varunjeet Singh Charak.
Among others present were Tehsildar Ramban, Deep Kumar, Dy. SP DAR (In-charge Civil Defence Ramban), Principal GMHSS Ramban, Kewal Krishan Sharma, officers from the Fire & Emergency Services, SDRF experts, staff and students of the host institution.
The mock drill focused on sensitizing young students about effective rescue and safety techniques during natural and man-made disasters, with demonstrations and interactive sessions led by SDRF and Fire & Emergency Services tea Students were educated on evacuation methods, basic first aid, fire-fighting and handling panic situations.
Speaking on the occasion, ADC Varunjeet Singh Charak emphasized that the choice of a school as the venue was intentional. “Young students are the best ambassadors of safety and awareness. Training them Saturday ensures a resilient and informed society tomorrow,” he said. He urged the students to carry forward the knowledge to their families and communities, strengthening the district’s disaster response mechanism.
Dy. SP DAR, while addressing the gathering, highlighted the role of the Civil Defense and SDRF in crisis response and encouraged greater participation of citizens in such preparedness initiatives. He reiterated the importance of timely drills and training to minimize casualties and damage during unforeseen events.
The event concluded with a Q&A session where students actively engaged with officials and experts, showcasing their keen interest in disaster preparedness and community safety.
Similar mock drill exercises were also coordinated by the Assistant Commissioner Revenue Ramban, Shoket Hayat Mattoo at Government Higher Secondary School Banihal and Government Higher Secondary School Batote under “Operation SHIELD” in the presence of senior officers. These drills witnessed active participation from the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), Emergency Fire Services, Medical Teams, Home Guards, Revenue Department and Education Department staff along with enthusiastic involvement of students. The objective was to enhance preparedness, coordination and timely response among various departments and stakeholders in the event of a disaster or emergency situation.
