Thaindian News

New Delhi, Apr 26 (ANI): The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) in association with International Search and Advisory Group (INSARAG) and United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UNOCHA) will host the regional group earthquake response exercise at Agra from May 4 to 6.This exercise is a tabletop exercise and provides a unique opportunity to all the participants at the national and international level to learn the best practices of urban search and rescue from various participating national/international responders. With a view to provide international level exposure to the officials involved in the management of earthquake disaster at different level, officials/ personnel from the Ministries/ Departments/ NGOs dealing with such disasters will participate in the exercise. About 80-100 international participants including representatives of UN/ INSARAG and similar number of Indian counterparts will participate in the exercise. The United Nations Office for the coordination of humanitarian affairs conducts a regional earthquake response exercise every year in the Asia-Pacific region. UNOCHA had requested Government of India to host this exercise in 2011. As a prelude to the international exercise NDMA today conducted a mock exercise in Agra and Disaster Management Plan (DM Plan) of Agra was put into action. (ANI)