New Delhi, August 1, 2025 – A large-scale, field‑level disaster preparedness drill named Exercise Suraksha Chakra was conducted across Delhi and the National Capital Region today. The mock drill aimed to rigorously evaluate emergency response mechanisms for earthquake and industrial chemical hazards at 55 locations spread across all 11 districts of Delhi, as well as parts of Uttar Pradesh and Haryana.
Simulating emergencies: earthquake tremors and chemical leaks
At approximately 9:03 a.m., sirens were sounded across schools, hospitals, metro stations, markets, government offices, and industrial zones, marking the start with a simulated earthquake scenario. This was immediately followed by staged chemical leak situations at transport hubs and industrial clusters spanning West, North‑East, and South‑West Delhi.
Residents in Delhi‑NCR received advisory messages ahead of time—alerting them to the mock drill and requesting their cooperation and calm while emergency protocols were being tested.
Multi‑agency coordination in action
The Delhi Disaster Management Authority (DDMA), under the leadership of CEO Krishan Kumar, spearheaded coordination for the mock drill. The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), acting with the Delhi, UP and Haryana governments, collaborated with the Indian Army, National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), Civil Defence, Delhi Police, fire services, health, transport and other agencies to simulate rescue, evacuation, medical triage, containment, and public communication operations.
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Over 20 stakeholder departments—including education, municipal bodies (MCD, DJB), transport, PWD, RWAs, private hospitals, and market associations—participated actively in the exercise, each simulating their crisis responsibilities in real time.
Real‑time EOCs and feedback loop
State and district Emergency Operations Centers (SEOCs and DEOCs) remained operational throughout the day. Real-time field reports, mobile team updates, and situation assessments were streamed to command centers. Relief camps and staging areas were also activated to support displaced persons and responders.
After-action feedback will help authorities identify gaps in coordination, infrastructure, and incident protocols—especially concerning Delhi’s diverse terrain, ranging from ridge lines to floodplains along the Yamuna.
Key sites and public response
Simulated operations took place at key locations like Ramesh Nagar Metro Station, where a chemical leak exercise triggered passenger evacuation, containment protocols, and mock casualty treatment. At Mother’s International School, students practiced swift classroom evacuation, gas and electricity shutdowns, and regrouping at safe zones under teacher supervision.
Residents observed increased movement of ambulances, fire tenders, police vans, and army vehicles. Public address announcements were broadcast via mobile and manual systems to make the exercise realistic—reinforcing the importance of awareness and not panicking.
Context and significance
Exercise Suraksha Chakra is the culmination of a structured preparedness strategy, initiated by a high‑level symposium on July 29 and a tabletop exercise on July 30, before today’s full‑scale field drill conducted on August 1.
This marks the first mega‑scale integrated disaster management rehearsal of its kind in Delhi‑NCR, involving simultaneous simulation across 55 sites and integration of emergency services, military and civic agencies.
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DDMA officials emphasised that such exercises bolster public safety, sharpen response times, and build a resilient urban infrastructure. Citizens are advised to treat any warnings during the drill as part of the exercise and refrain from spreading misinformation.
✅ Summary
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Drill name | Exercise Suraksha Chakra |
| Date | August 1, 2025 |
| Locations | 55 sites across Delhi’s 11 districts, plus NCR zones |
| Simulations | Earthquake scenario followed by chemical hazard |
| Agencies involved | NDMA, DDMA, NDRF, Indian Army, Delhi Police, others |
| Key activities | Evacuations, triage, containment, command post operation |
| Outcome | Real‑time coordination tests, follow‑up action plans |
This mock drill stands as a critical testament to India’s proactive approach toward disaster readiness—bringing together multiple sectors in a unified, live simulation to better handle real emergencies.
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