Disaster relief exercise at Eastern Air Command

SHILLONG: A three-day Exercise on Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) titled ‘Nabhas Rahat’, hosted by HQs Eastern Air Command, got underway at Upper Shillong on Tuesday.
The exercise ‘Nabhas Rahat’ or ‘helping hands from the sky’ aims to synergise the efforts of all stakeholders in executing HADR operations in the calamity-prone region of the northeast and adjoining states.
Addressing the media on the occasion, Chief Minister Mukul Sangma said, “It (the exercise) is in sync with the overall preparedness for mitigating and addressing the challenges of disaster.”
Underling the importance of the exercise, Sangma said, “Continuous engagement is required to ensure that there is no scope for lack of synergy.”
Referring to the 2014 flash floods in the State which claimed many lives in Garo Hills region, Sangma said that the Air Force was called in to mitigate the situation thus leading to a joint collaboration between the IAF and the State Government.
In this connection, he observed that the Joint Exercise ‘Nabhas Rahat’ by Indian Air Force will further strengthen the process of engagement.
Sangma felt that the exercise will help in ensuring that the State is prepared to face natural disasters which are usually not predictable and synchronize the coordination with the IAF.
Senior officials from Indian Air Force, Army, Navy, CRPF, BSF, NCC, NSS, IDS, State Secretariat and Police, DC Shillong, Meghalaya State Disaster Management, National Disaster Management Authority, National Disaster Relief Force are among the delegates at this exercise.
The delegates were welcomed on behalf of Air Marshal Anil Khosla, Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief, EAC under whose directions the inclusive seminar is being conducted.
A display of capabilities of the stakeholders is planned for June 7 at the Upper Shillong ALG. A simulated scenario is planned to showcase and practice the synergistic capabilities of fire services, hospitals, surveillance, police department, traffic police, DMAs at various levels along with the IAF.