Hyderabad: Authorities conducted a comprehensive Hyderabad flood mock drill on Monday at the Necklace Road viewpoint to test emergency preparedness and coordination mechanisms during flood situations.
The drill, organised by the Hyderabad district administration with support from the National Disaster Management Authority, recreated flood response conditions under the Incident Response System. Officials used the exercise to assess preparedness at the field level and the efficiency of inter-departmental coordination.
Hyderabad flood mock drill evaluates field and medical readiness
District Revenue Officer Venkatachary led the operation as Incident Commander, monitoring all response activities. Deputy Collector Ravi handled staging operations and coordinated the mobilisation of personnel and resources.
Participation came from a wide range of departments, including police, fire services, medical and health, GHMC, irrigation, electricity, water supply, civil supplies, animal husbandry, youth services, HYDRAA, SDRF, NDRF, and R&B. Their coordinated actions reflected a structured disaster response model.
The NDMA State Observer and Director General of Fire Services Vikram Singh Maan reviewed the proceedings. They interacted with officers and highlighted the need for defined responsibilities, particularly in flood-prone urban pockets, in accordance with the Disaster Management Act.
Medical response was reviewed separately. NDMA lead consultant Sudheer Bhal (retd) observed that such exercises improve preparedness for real-time emergencies. Along with DG Vikram Singh Maan, he later visited KIMS Hospital to assess hospital-level disaster readiness.
Hospital officials briefed the team on emergency protocols, triage arrangements, and capacity to manage patient surges during floods. The reviewers provided actionable suggestions aimed at improving medical response during urban flooding events.
