Exercise AIKYA: Unifying Disaster Management in India

Event Overview and Objectives

• Name: Exercise AIKYA ("Oneness" in Tamil)
• Date: Two-day event (specific dates not mentioned)
• Location: Chennai, Headquarters of the Dakshin Bharat Area

Organizers:

• • National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA)
  • Indian Army Southern Command
  • Tamil Nadu State Disaster Management Authority (TNSDMA)

Key Objectives:

• • Enhance disaster preparedness and response capabilities
  • Improve coordination among various stakeholders
  • Test roles and responsibilities through simulations
  • Discuss and integrate new technologies in disaster management
  • Review lessons from recent disaster operations

Participants and Scope

• Participating States/UTs: Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Puducherry
• Central Ministries involved in disaster management
• Armed Forces: Indian Army, Indian Navy, Indian Air Force
• Response Agencies: NDRF, Indian Coast Guard, CRPF, CISF, Railways
• Early Warning Agencies: IMD, NRSC, INCOIS, CWC, FSI

Other Key Participants:

• • Geographical Survey of India (GSI)
  • Department of Telecommunications (DoT)
  • Research institutions: NIDM, NIOT, IIT Madras, Department of Atomic Energy

Notable Attendees:

• • Lt Gen Syed Ata Hasnain (Retd), Member, NDMA
  • Lt Gen Dhiraj Seth, Army Commander Southern Command
  • Lt Gen Karanbir Singh Brar, GOC Dakshin Bharat Area
  • Piyush Anand, DG, NDRF

Focus Areas:

• • Tsunamis, landslides, floods, cyclones, industrial incidents, forest fires
  • Recent events in Tamil Nadu, Wayanad, and Andhra Pradesh
  • Economic costs of disasters
  • Vulnerabilities specific to Peninsular India
  • Strategies to improve response times

Key Components and Future Plans

Components of the Exercise:

• • Integrated Symposium
  • Table Top Exercise (TTEx)
  • Simulations of emergency situations
  • Discussions on technological advancements and AI in disaster management
  • Knowledge exchange and capacity building sessions

Highlighted Success:

• • Rapid response during recent Wayanad landslide by Karnataka Kerala Sub Area and Indian Army

Future Plans:

• • Similar exercises planned with other commands and institutions
  • Collaborations with Army War College, Naval War College, and College of Air Warfare