Gandaki, May 27: The Nepal Army (NA)’s Western Division Headquarters, Pokhara has started a mock programme related to disaster response and management in high mountainous region.
In cahoots with the Gandaki province government, the NA has run the ‘Abhyas Hatemalo, 2082’ – a collaborative mock exercise for disaster preparedness and response in high hills and mountains.
NA Colonel at the Division, Bikram Dev Giri informed that the mock practice on high mountain disaster management was undertaken in Pokhara on Sunday and Monday and the applied practice would take place in Jomsom (Mustang) from Thursday onwards.
He further informed that the exercise would also be held in Jomsom and Nilgiri mountainous regions. The NA team participating in the mock practice has already reached Mustang for further engagement. “The collaborative mock practice has been put in place to enhance support and cooperation among multiple stakeholders for the management of disasters in mountainous and high hill region”.
He expressed the belief that the practice would identify the capacity and need of the disaster response. Chief Secretary of the Gandaki Province, Raghuram Bista said the province government has been extending assistance to the three security agencies in their practice for disaster preparedness and response. “The NA-initiated practice would contribute to manage and mitigate disasters taking place in high mountainous area”.
He further stated that the programme would be effective to address the possible impacts of natural disasters in the Himalayan tourism of the province.
At the closing session of the mock practice, Chief Secretary of Gandaki, Surendra Raj Pandey pledged to gradually increase the resources and means to the plans related to disaster management and response. —
