From Our Correspondent
TURA, May 2: The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), in collaboration with the District Disaster Management Authority (DDMA), West Garo Hills, concluded a week-long series of Familiarization Exercises (FAMEX) across six educational institutions on Saturday.
The programme, held from April 27 to May 2, was designed to build disaster response capacity and awareness among students, staff, and local communities.
The exercises included practical demonstrations on rescue techniques, first aid, CPR, evacuation protocols, and the use of improvised local resources during emergencies.
Participating institutions included Dalu Higher Secondary School, St. Luke Higher Secondary School (Tura), Don Bosco Higher Secondary School (Tikrikila), ICFAI University (Tura), Selsella Higher Secondary School, and Don Bosco College (Tura).
The initiative was coordinated by NDRF Inspectors Mehta M. Kumar and W Khaleng, alongside DDMA Field Engineer Camelius K Sangma.
Beyond school demonstrations, joint teams from the NDRF and DDMA conducted field visits to vulnerable locations throughout the district. These inspections focused on assessing risks in flood-prone and earthquake-prone zones to strengthen local preparedness.
The final exercise was held at Don Bosco College, Tura, in the presence of the Principal, Fr. Januarius S. Sangma. This was followed by a visit to the Ganol Dam and surrounding high-risk villages.
Officials stated that the primary goal of FAMEX is to equip communities with the skills necessary to respond effectively to emergencies, thereby minimising potential loss of life and property. The organisers credited the Deputy Commissioner and the District Disaster Management Officer for their guidance in executing the week-long programme.
