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Multi-agency disaster The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), in collaboration with the Indian Army and the state governments of Delhi, Haryana, and Uttar Pradesh, is set to conduct a large-scale disaster management exercise named “Exercise Suraksha Chakra” from July 29 to August 1, 2025.
This multi-agency, multi-state drill is among the most extensive disaster preparedness initiatives ever conducted in the National Capital Region (NCR), aimed at strengthening inter-agency coordination and response mechanisms to handle major disasters such as earthquakes and industrial chemical hazards.
The four-day exercise is structured to progress from strategic planning to ground-level action. On July 29, a high-level symposium will be held at the Manekshaw Centre, where senior leadership from participating agencies will deliberate on the hazard profile of the region and share strategies for effective disaster response.
This will be followed by a Table Top Exercise (TTEx) on July 30 at the same venue, during which disaster managers will simulate and wargame their response plans against hypothetical disaster scenarios.
The exercise will culminate on August 1 with a full-scale mock drill simulating a major earthquake event. This field-level exercise will be conducted simultaneously across all 18 participating districts in the NCR and coordinated by the Delhi State Disaster Management Authority (SDMA).
A public advisory has been issued in advance of the August 1 mock drill to ensure that residents do not mistake the exercise for an actual emergency. Citizens are urged to stay calm and cooperate with authorities, as the activities are designed solely for preparedness and training purposes.
During the exercise, people may witness increased movement of emergency vehicles, including ambulances, fire tenders, police vehicles, and army trucks. Response teams comprising personnel from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), Armed Forces, Civil Defence, and other participating agencies will be deployed in various locations.
Sirens and public address systems may be used to signal the commencement of the drill and temporary field facilities such as Incident Command Posts, Staging Areas, Relief Camps, and Medical Aid Posts will be set up at designated sites. Simulated rescue operations involving search and rescue drills, casualty evacuation and medical aid will also be conducted using mock victims to test emergency response capabilities.
The exercise will span 18 districts in the NCR, including all 11 districts of Delhi—Central, East, New Delhi, North, North East, North West, Shahdara, South, South East, South West, and West Delhi. From Haryana, the participating districts are Gurugram, Faridabad, Palwal, Nuh, and Rewari, while Gautam Buddha Nagar and Ghaziabad are the two participating districts from Uttar Pradesh.
EXERCISE SURAKSHA CHAKRA adopts a “Whole-of-Government” approach, with participants including the Armed Forces, Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs), scientific and technical institutions such as the India Meteorological Department (IMD) and the National Centre for Seismology (NCS), as well as civil society organisations.
In a groundbreaking move to enhance urban resilience, the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), in collaboration with the Indian Army and the governments of Delhi, Haryana, and Uttar Pradesh, orchestrated Exercise Suraksha Chakra across Delhi‑NCR from July 29 to August 1, 2025—one of the most extensive disaster preparedness drills ever conducted in the region India TodayIndia TV News.
1. Phase One – High-Level Symposium (July 29)
The four-day drill commenced with a symposium at the Manekshaw Centre in New Delhi, where senior officials reviewed Delhi‑NCR’s hazard profile and strategized coordinated responses to major disasters India TodayIndia TV News. The gathering laid the foundation for clearer communication and decision-making mechanisms across agencies.
2. Phase Two – Tabletop Exercise (July 30)
On July 30, disaster managers engaged in a Tabletop Exercise (TTEx), simulating emergency scenarios—earthquakes, chemical incidents, industrial accidents—to test strategic plans and refine inter-agency coordination in a controlled setting India TodayIndia TV News.
3. Phase Three – Full‑Scale Field Drill (August 1)
The climax of the drill arrived on August 1 in the form of a wide-ranging field mock drill. Conducted simultaneously across all 18 NCR districts—which include Delhi’s 11 districts, plus Gurugram, Faridabad, Palwal, Nuh, and Rewari in Haryana, and Ghaziabad and Gautam Buddha Nagar in Uttar Pradesh—the exercise simulated a devastating earthquake potentially leading to industrial chemical hazards India TodayIndia TV NewsThePrint.
Citizens were cautioned in advance not to mistake the drill for real catastrophe. They were advised to stay calm and cooperate with authorities as emergency vehicles—ambulances, fire tenders, police cars, and army trucks—were deployed throughout the region India TodayThe Times of India.
On-the-Ground Action
At 55 locations across Delhi, including markets, hospitals, and schools, the simulation kicked into high gear. It began with a mock earthquake event followed by an industrial chemical leak—both triggering swift response from agencies in real-time drills www.ndtv.com+1.
In Noida and Ghaziabad, residents experienced siren blasts simulating emergencies, with mock evacuations, first aid, and triage drills carried out in collaboration with local volunteers and institutions like hospitals and colleges. Operations were coordinated via the DEOC and EOC, and response leaders were deployed onsite to manage flow and logistics The Times of India.
In Haryana, the drill ran in Gurugram, Faridabad, Palwal, Nuh, and Rewari across 21 key sites—including schools, hospitals, malls, and government buildings—testing the quick mobilisation and alignment of rescue capabilities within the Incident Response System (IRS) framework The Tribune.
Why It Matters
Holistic “whole-of-government” alignment: Exercise Suraksha Chakra exemplified a coordinated approach across all levels—from strategic planning to boots-on-ground execution—bringing together military, civil, technical, and community actors India TodayIndia TV News.
Public awareness and trust: The proactive public advisory prevented panic and helped citizens understand the importance of exercising readiness protocols during emergencies India TodayThe Times of India.
Gap identification for resilience: Simulated rescue operations, command posts, staging areas, and medical response systems enabled agencies to stress-test logistics, coordination, and infrastructure—which are crucial to improving disaster response outcomes.
Realism under pressure: By involving real-time sirens, mock victims, mobile command centers, and volunteers, the exercise instilled realism, preparing responders and residents alike for actual emergencies.
Final Thoughts
Exercise Suraksha Chakra was more than a drill—it was a blueprint for urban survival. In a region as densely populated and hazard-prone as Delhi‑NCR, resilience depends on preparation. The lessons derived—clear responsibilities, tighter coordination, faster action—lay the groundwork for a safer, disaster-ready future.
For citizens, awareness and cooperation are key. For authorities, adapting and iterating protocols ensures continuous evolution. If Delhi‑NCR emerges from this exercise stronger, smarter, and more synchronized, that in itself will testify to the drill’s success.
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