Mock Drill Held in Himachal on 120th Anniversary of Kangra Earthquake to Promote Disaster Awareness

Shimla, April 4: On the 120th anniversary of the devastating 1905 Kangra earthquake, Himachal Pradesh marked the day as Disaster Awareness Day with a series of activities aimed at educating the public on disaster preparedness. The earthquake, which struck the Kangra district on April 4, 1905, with a magnitude of 7.8, claimed around 20,000 lives and left thousands more injured. Over 100,000 homes were completely destroyed, making it one of the most tragic natural disasters in the region’s history.

As part of the observance, a mock drill was conducted at 3 p.m. across the state, synchronized with a siren sound from the state secretariat. The drill, which involved the fire department, police, and the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), was designed to simulate an emergency response to a major earthquake.

Chief Secretary Prabodh Saxena oversaw the drill, inspecting firefighting equipment and receiving briefings from the fire brigade personnel. Following the drill, a presentation was held at the state secretariat, focusing on earthquake-resistant building construction and disaster preparedness. Saxena lauded the efforts of the State Disaster Management Authority, highlighting the importance of regular drills to raise public awareness. He emphasized that disaster preparedness and awareness were crucial in minimizing risks, especially in the absence of reliable earthquake predictions.

Saxena also took the opportunity to reflect on the lessons learned from the 1905 earthquake, noting that the people of Himachal had adopted the Dhaajji wall and Kashthkuni construction methods in the aftermath to make buildings more resilient to earthquakes. He urged the adoption of modern, earthquake-resistant construction practices to better protect lives and property in the future.

Rakesh Kanwar, Secretary of Secretariat Administration, suggested that an integrated public address system be installed across the state to facilitate effective communication during disasters. This would improve control and coordination during emergency responses, ensuring timely dissemination of crucial information.

DC Rana, Director and Special Secretary of Disaster Management, reported that civil solidarity marches were held in all district headquarters to raise awareness about disaster preparedness. Schools, universities, and health institutions across the state are also participating in awareness programs, running workshops, and organizing mock drills to educate students and the general public on earthquake safety measures.

Himachal Pradesh, located in seismic zones 4 and 5, is at high risk of earthquakes, with districts such as Chamba, Kangra, Mandi, Kullu, Hamirpur, and Bilaspur being particularly vulnerable. The state has been taking proactive steps to strengthen its disaster response systems, focusing on drainage system improvements, preventing construction in unsafe areas, and reinforcing hills and slopes to mitigate landslide risks.

In addition, disaster preparedness will be discussed at the Gram Sabha level across all Panchayats in April, as the state government continues to work on enhancing safety measures. The ongoing efforts are aimed at reducing the impact of natural disasters, especially earthquakes, which remain a significant threat in this seismic zone.

The commemoration of the Kangra earthquake’s 120th anniversary serves as a reminder of the importance of disaster preparedness, as Himachal Pradesh continues to improve its resilience to natural calamities.