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The maiden Joint Disaster Management Exercise named Prakampana (‘Cyclone’ in Sanskrit) aimed at synchronising resources and efforts of all agencies involved in disaster management has been inaugurated at Visakhapatnam today, 30th August 16. The three-day long exercise is being conducted by the Eastern Naval Command in liaison with concerned Centre and State authorities. Vice Admiral HCS Bisht Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief, ENC delivered the opening address while Shri Satya Prakash Tucker, Chief Secretary to Govt. of Andhra Pradesh delivered the opening address during the inaugural ceremony of Ex Prakampana held at Samudrika Naval Auditorium. Shri Ganta Srinivasa Rao, Hon’ble HRD Minister, Govt. of Andhra Pradesh also addressed the gathering and later visited the disaster management camp set up to give an insight into the nuances of disaster relief operations.

Several dignitaries from various Central and State Government agencies, representatives from PSUs located in Visakhapatnam, Professors, University reps and experts in the field of disaster management are participating in the exercise in addition to armed forces viz. Indian Army, Indian Navy and Indian Air Force. The inaugural session had presentations by all concerned agencies were aimed at highlighting their existing capabilities in dealing with such natural disasters and was followed by a Table Top Exercise (TTX) at Maritime Warfare Centre, inside Naval Dockyard on a simulated scenario of a super cyclone hitting an urban city akin Hudhud. All stake holders officials who were tasked to formulate a comprehensive Disaster Management Plan to cater for the pre-event action and post disaster action plan. The TTX enabled better understanding of each other’s peculiarities so as to bring all agencies to a common understanding of Disaster Management for better synergy and co-ordination in planning relief operations.

Day two is going to be full of Humanitarian and Disaster Relief (HADR) capability demonstration beginning with display of air assets of IN and IAF at Naval Air Station followed by demonstration of HADR IN Ships at Naval Dockyard, and a Static Demonstration of HADR assets of all participating stake holders at HADR Campsite near Samudrika grounds.

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DKS/AC