Sri Vijaya Puram, Oct 31: A Table Top Exercise (TTEx) was conducted on 31st October 2025 under the chairmanship of Dr. Chandra Bhushan Kumar, IAS, Chief Secretary, A&N Administration in coordination with the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India, New Delhi. The exercise was attended by all line departments of the A&N Administration, District Administrations (South Andaman, N&M Andaman, and Nicobar) representatives from the Armed Forces, NDRF, Police, and other stakeholders of the A&N Islands. The event was held in the Conference Hall of the Secretariat, Sri Vijaya Puram, to finalize the scenario and activities for the upcoming Inter State Mock Exercise (ISME) – 2025 on Earthquake & Tsunami, scheduled to be conducted in the A&N Islands on 4th November 2025.
The Chief Secretary extended a warm welcome to Lt. Gen. Syed Ata Hasnain (Retd.), Member, NDMA (who joined via VC mode). In his opening address, he highlighted that the Table Top Exercise provides an excellent opportunity for all stakeholders, including district administrations, defence forces, police, fire and emergency services, health, power, communication, and transport departments, to review their Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), communication protocols, and resource mobilization plans. He emphasized that the exercise is not merely a theoretical activity but a practical simulation of coordination and decision-making processes required during real-time disaster situations. He urged all participants to actively engage in discussions, identify gaps in inter-departmental coordination, communication flow, and resource sharing, ensuring that the upcoming Inter State Mock Exercise on 4th November is conducted effectively and realistically in the Islands.
Addressing the participants virtually, Lt. Gen. Syed Ata Hasnain (Retd.), Hon’ble Member, NDMA expressed his gratitude to the Chief Secretary and the A&N Administration for organizing the Table Top Exercise as part of the preparations for the Inter State Mock Exercise. He emphasized that the purpose of such exercises is not only to rehearse procedures but also to think, plan, and act collectively. He stated that the Inter State Mock Exercise on 4th November 2025 will serve as an important milestone in assessing the readiness of the A&N Administration to respond to major disasters, particularly those of tsunami and earthquake origin. It will also help strengthen coordination among agencies, enhance the operational readiness of the State Emergency Operation Centre (SEOC), District Emergency Operation Centres (DEOCs), and EOCs, and test the early warning dissemination systems.
Comdt. Aditya Kumar (Retd.), Mock Exercise Coordinator, NDMA, New Delhi, briefed the participants on the mock exercise scenario and the objectives of the Table Top Exercise. Various earthquake and tsunami scenarios were presented to review the preparedness and response mechanisms of the A&N Islands, which will be tested during ISME – 2025. He also emphasized the importance of active participation by the community, volunteers, schools, and colleges, and the need for regular training and capacity-building to enhance disaster management capabilities during the critical “golden hours.”
Dy. Commissioners and Officers from the District Administrations, A&N Command, Police, Fire Services, Health, NDRF and other Emergency Support Departments presented their preparedness measures and response strategies to ensure the smooth conduct of ISME – 2025 and to strengthen the overall disaster response framework in the A&N Islands.
In her closing remarks, Ms. Purva Garg, IAS, Secretary (Disaster Management), expressed her gratitude to the Hon’ble Member, NDMA, and the Chief Secretary, A&N Administration for their valuable guidance and insightful observations. She also conveyed her sincere appreciation to the senior officers of the Administration, representatives of the A&N Command, Police, Health, and other line departments as well as the District Administrations for their active participation and cooperation in this important preparatory event for ISME – 2025.
