Curtain comes down on varsity’s two-day national workshop
By Our Reporter
SHILLONG, July 12: More than 48 trained NDRF personnel, equipped with specialised rescue tools, participated in a mock earthquake emergency response drill during the final day of the two-day national workshop on Disaster Risk Reduction, organised by the Department of Geology, North-Eastern Hill University (NEHU), Shillong, on Saturday.
According to a statement here, the workshop concluded on July 12 with a valedictory at the Social Science Cluster Classroom, NEHU.
The second day began with an online quiz on disaster risk reduction, conducted by Dr Shikhar Kumar, which was attended by over 350 participants across India. Mrinmoy Bhattacharjee of Army Public School, Shillong, secured first position, while Chinmoy Jyoti Dutta of NEHU, Shillong, and Priyanshi Ghanghas from Chandigarh secured the second position.
On the occasion, attractive prizes were awarded to the top performers, and all participants received e-certificates of participation.
Following the quiz, the NDRF team, under the direction of Commanding Officer, 1st Battalion NDRF, Guwahati, HPS Kandari, conducted a hands-on simulation replicating real-time disaster response, including setting up a command post, a medical base, monitoring scenarios and providing first aid and pre-hospital treatment to affected individuals.
Approximately 100 participants, including delegates from the Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES), NEHU faculty, students, disaster management professionals and invited guests, observed the exercise.
The NDRF also hosted an exhibition showcasing cutting-edge technologies used in disaster rescue missions, stressing its evolving capabilities in managing complex emergencies.
“The event concluded with widespread commendation for the NDRF team’s preparedness, expertise and coordination, and participants collectively emphasized the need for more such drills in the future to strengthen both institutional and community-level resilience in the face of real disaster events,” the statement said.
During the valedictory programme, Dean, School of Human and Environmental Sciences (SHES), NEHU, Prof. Devesh Walia, stressed the importance of the Prime Minister’s 10-Point Agenda and the National Disaster Management Plan in building a resilient society. He encouraged every institution and household to prepare disaster management plans.
Kandari, who was the chief guest on the occasion, delivered a keynote address titled ‘Sentinels of Bharat Rashtra to Combat Disaster’, detailing the NDRF’s expanding role since its establishment under the DMA Act, 2005, and its commitment to community-level capacity building alongside emergency response.
He highlighted the need for preparedness, contextual awareness and the use of technology, including Artificial Intelligence (AI), in disaster management.
“The NDRF,” he added, “includes a multidisciplinary team of responders, engineers, doctors, others and rescue dogs, and is equipped to respond to various types of disasters.”
Kandari also explained that India follows global guidelines set by bodies such as the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UNOCHA) to ensure professionalism in disaster response.
“The workshop concluded with the distribution of certificates to participants and volunteers by the dignitaries, followed by a formal Vote of Thanks, expressing gratitude to all the speakers, guests, organizers, and participants for making the event a success,” the statement said.