Hyderabad hosts multi-agency exercise to tackle urban flooding

A multi-agency exercise, involving the armed forces, the National Disaster Response Force, (NDRF) and others, was conducted here today as part of efforts to synergise relief operations in an urban flooding scenario.
The joint exercise, 'Pralay Sahayam', was organised as per a directive of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Minister of State for Defence Subhash Bhamre, who was present on the occasion, told reporters.
"In December 2015, in the combined commanders conference, our Prime Minister Modiji (suggested this exercise). As per his direction, this exercise 'Pralay Sahayam', we are all doing together," Bhamre said.
The exercise aimed to synergise the efforts of the agencies and build confidence among the populace with regards to the capabilities towards mitigation of disasters and support available during massive flooding in the cities.

For the drill, dummy structures depicting multi-storey buildings and houses with stranded people in submerged residential localities following heavy rains were erected in the Hussain Sagar lake, the venue for the massive exercise.
The stranded occupants of homes were rescued in joint operations carried out by the armed forces, NDRF, state government agencies, police and others.

The Indian Air Force and the Army Aviation employed the Mi-17s, the Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH) and others for aerial evacuation.
One Mi-17 chopper lowered a Gemini class inflatable boat of the Navy for rescuing the trapped citizens.
"The idea (of the exercise) is that a system is built in which all the stakeholders play their respective roles.

"They understand their own responsibility and how a relief operation is conducted so that loss of life is minimum," Bhamre said.
Such exercises help in formulating and improving the response to disasters, he said.
The Union minister appreciated the armed forces, the Telangana government and other agencies for their contribution in the event.
Similar joint exercises were conducted in the last one year at Guwahati, Visakhapatnam, Bhuj and Karwar in Karnataka on different types of disasters like floods, cyclone and earthquake, officials said.
Thanking the Union minister for conducting the exercises in Hyderabad, Deputy Chief Minister of Telangana Mohammed Mahmood Ali recalled the help rendered by the armed forces personnel following heavy rains in the city last year.