Shillong: Emergency teams and local officials gathered in Tura this week to test disaster protocols. A tabletop exercise kicked off the event on July 22 at the Ganol SHP office. Officials reviewed dam safety and inundation maps ahead of the main event. Retired Col. K.C. Monappa led the technical sessions. Participants included village headmen, community leaders, and various government departments.
The mock drill began Thursday at 11:00 AM. It aimed to stress-test coordination and evacuation plans. The drill spanned multiple locations: Endenbari, Masumatagre, Soragre, Pagugre, and Ringgi Songgital. An incident command post operated out of Masumatagre Sacred Heart School. It linked the Police, Fire & Emergency Services, the Health Department, and the State Disaster Response Force.
Panic hit the region mid-drill. Viral social media rumors claimed the Ganol Dam had actually suffered a breach. Officials scrambled to issue public warnings. They urged residents to rely only on official reports. The situation forced leaders to manage public fear alongside their training objectives. The drill highlighted the threat of misinformation during actual crises. Jude Rangku T. Sangma, CEO of the District Disaster Management Authority, served as Incident Commander for the day. He oversaw operations while experts evaluated the emergency communication systems. Officials later confirmed that the structure remains sound. As one official stated, "Authorities have appealed to citizens to ignore unverified information and rely strictly on official advisories issued by competent authorities." The event wrapped up with a debriefing on the effectiveness of local response.
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