Exercise AIKYA: Unifying Disaster Management in India

Exercise AIKYA, a two-day event in Chennai, aims to enhance disaster preparedness and response capabilities in India. The event, was organized by the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), Indian Army Southern Command, and Tamil Nadu State Disaster Management Authority (TNSDMA).

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

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