TURA, July 23: While emergency teams were practicing for a disaster at the Ganol Dam on Thursday, a real-world crisis of misinformation triggered panic across West Garo Hills, forcing officials to scramble to debunk viral social media rumours of an actual dam breach mid-drill.
The exercise, organised by the Meghalaya Power Generation Corporation Limited (MePGCL) and the District Disaster Management Authority (DDMA), was intended to test flood preparedness and evacuation protocols in downstream villages. However, as the simulation progressed, unverified messages claiming the dam had failed began circulating on social media, causing alarm among residents in the Tura region.
Authorities were forced to issue urgent clarifications during the drill to reassure the public that the Ganol Dam remains secure. Officials have appealed to citizens to ignore unverified information and rely strictly on official advisories issued by competent authorities.
The mock drill was carried out across multiple locations, including Endenbari, Masumatagre, Soragre, Pagugre, and Ringgi Songgital. An incident command post was established at Masumatagre Sacred Heart School to coordinate the response between the Police, Fire & Emergency Services, the Health Department, and the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF).
Jude Rangku T Sangma, CEO of the DDMA, oversaw the operations as Incident Commander, while Retired Col. KC Monappa provided technical evaluation. The exercise tested emergency communication systems, rescue operations, and the effectiveness of evacuation procedures for communities in vulnerable downstream areas.
The field exercise followed a preparatory session held on July 22, where village heads (Nokmas), Sordars, and government officials reviewed inundation maps and safety protocols.
While officials stated the exercise helped strengthen disaster resilience and inter-agency coordination, the day’s events highlighted the significant challenge of managing public perception and social media misinformation during emergency simulations.
