Administration holds successful flood preparedness Mock Drill in Garhi Fazil

Ludhiana, August 19, 2025: In a proactive effort to enhance flood preparedness and ensure the safety of residents in flood-prone areas, a comprehensive mock drill was conducted by district administration in Garhi Fazil village, situated on the banks of the Sutlej River on Tuesday morning. 
The exercise, held under the supervision of Deputy Commissioner Himanshu Jain, along with SDM East Jasleen Kaur Bhullar and Assistant Commissioner Payal Goyal, demonstrated the administration’s commitment to effective disaster management and inter-departmental coordination.
The mock drill simulated a hypothetical flood situation in Garhi Fazil village, engaging multiple key departments, including Drainage, Panchayats, Forest, Revenue, Food and Civil Supplies, Medical, Police, Animal Husbandry, Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL), District Mandi Office, Public Health, Transport, Police, and Education. The exercise aimed to test the preparedness, response time, and coordination among departments in handling a flood-like emergency.
The drill commenced with a mock warning call received at the district control room (0161-2922330), alerting authorities to a potential flood situation due to rising water levels in the Sutlej River. The control room operator immediately informed SDM East Jasleen Kaur Bhullar, under whose jurisdiction Garhi Fazil falls, while simultaneously alerting to the Deputy Commissioner’s office and all relevant departments to ensure a swift and coordinated response.  In response to the simulated threat, teams from the Drainage Department, supported by NREGA labourers through forest and Panchayat department, swiftly moved to strengthen the Dhussi Bandh by strategically placing sandbags to prevent potential breaches with the help of JCBs. Labourers were also pressed to fill more sand bags. Public announcements were made through Gurdwara Sahib to alert the villagers about risk and informing them to reach there immediately to take them to rescue centre. 
The Transport department at Gurdwara Sahib organized buses and trolleys to evacuate villagers to a designated rescue center established at the Government High School in Mattewara. At the rescue center, the Food and Civil Supplies Department, in coordination with Public Health officials, ensured the availability of food, essential eatables, clean drinking water and washrooms for the evacuees. The PSPCL team was stationed at the center to provide uninterrupted power supply. The health department was prepared to provide immediate healthcare services, while the Police department ensured safety and order during the evacuation. The Animal Husbandry department was on standby to address the needs of livestock, and the Education Department facilitated the use of the school as a rescue center. 
Deputy Commissioner Himanshu Jain commended the efforts of officials and stated that this mock drill is a critical step in preparing our district for potential flood situations. He added that the coordinated response and dedication shown by all departments reflect commitment to safeguarding lives and property. Such exercises help us identify gaps and strengthen disaster response mechanisms, he stated and added that regular mock drills, training programs, are part of on-going initiatives to mitigate the risks.