Statewide Disaster Management Exercise Conducted Across Odisha

Bhubaneswar : As part of its annual preparedness initiative, the Government of Odisha successfully conducted the Annual Tabletop and Disaster Management Exercise across all 30 districts on the 18th and 19th of June, 2025. The primary objective of the exercise was to foster a culture of disaster preparedness, evaluate information dissemination systems, test emergency response mechanisms and evacuation protocols, and identify gaps for future improvement.

On 18th June, Tabletop Exercises were held at each District Headquarters and extended to all Block and Urban Local Body (ULB) levels. The sessions saw the active participation of government officials from various departments, elected representatives, disaster response forces, and non-governmental organizations. The exercises simulated multiple disaster scenarios, including cyclones, heavy rainfall, floods, landslides, lightning, snakebites, droughts, and tsunamis. Roles and responsibilities of the various stakeholders were discussed in detail, and preparedness strategies were reviewed during the meetings.

The field-level Disaster Management Exercise was conducted on 19th June at all 909 Multipurpose Cyclone and Flood Shelters across Odisha. Dummy bulletins on cyclones, heavy rainfall, floods, landslides, and tsunamis were issued by the India Meteorological Department (IMD) and forwarded by the State Emergency Operations Centre to the respective District Emergency Operation Centres. These bulletins triggered mock evacuation drills at the village level.

The drills witnessed active participation from local villagers, elected representatives, ASHA and Anganwadi workers, members of Women Self-Help Groups (SHGs), Task Force volunteers, Aapda Mitras, and members of Shelter Management and Maintenance Committees. Community-based organizations also took part in the exercise. Teams from Fire and Emergency Services, the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), and the Odisha Disaster Rapid Action Force (ODRAF) were deployed at multiple shelters to carry out coordinated drills.

Officials from the Office of the Special Relief Commissioner and the Odisha State Disaster Management Authority (OSDMA), along with representatives from IMD’s Regional Centre in Bhubaneswar and nodal officers from various government departments and disaster response forces, coordinated and monitored all activities on both days.

These annual exercises play a crucial role in strengthening Odisha’s disaster resilience and ensuring the state is better prepared to respond to emergencies.

Bibhuti Bhusan Nayak
Public Relations Officer