SHIMLA: As part of its charter of duties in aid to civil authorities, the Indian Army's Western Command conducted a major disaster management exercise named 'Exercise Mountain Rescue' at Annadale Ground here Wednesday.

The aim of the exercise was to practice evacuation of civilian population from the disaster affected areas in the mountains. ALH and Chetak helicopters from the Indian Air Force (IAF) and the army's aviation wing participated in the exercise alongwith troops from the Indian Army's Special Forces and units stationed here.

The Special Forces troops were brought to the exercise area by the ALH helicopters of the IAF in the morning hours the day. Thereafter, army's aviation wing helicopters practiced casualty evacuation drills in conjunction with the army's Special Forces and troops from the units stationed in Shimla.

The exercise was conducted in conjunction with civil administration and troops from home guards and the fire services department.

The organizational strength of the army formations and units were in full display during the exercise and the drills and rehearsals carried out at the exercise area by the troops exhibited the dedication with which the disciplined army personnel always rise to such occasions by overcoming numerous challenges. Army plans to conduct such exercises in future also to rehearse drills during disaster management.

Major calamities that have struck the Indian sub-continent during the last decade, have underscored the need to adopt a multi-dimensional, multi-disciplinary and multi-sectoral approach to disaster management.

Within the ambit of this approach, the armed forces constitute a significant and potent entity available with the central and state governments for disaster response and relief.

The armed forces, by virtue of their organizational strength, motivation, discipline and operational preparedness, have always risen to the occasion, earning the appreciation of the environment for its singular contribution. 

Over the years, the scope of Army's role in disaster management has enlarged gradually.  It is invariably the first responder in disaster situations.  The Disaster Management Act of 2005 has ensured that the Army's role in disaster response remain focussed on critical issues, with optimal utilisation of dedicated resources.

The versatile capabilities of the Army to respond to any form of disaster situation can be best exemplified by the assistance provided during the Tsunami disaster as well as relief operations conducted in the aftermath of the Kashmir earthquake.

Besides internal security, army assistance is sought by the governments of the northeastern states during times of natural calamities. It was sought for the first time in 1950 when Assam was hit by an earthquake followed by floods.

There have been numerous other instances thereafter when the army was called out to help the civil administration. In each and every case, without exception, the organizational strength of army formations and units and the dedication of disciplined army personnel, overcame numerous challenges to rise to the occasion to provide immediate relief to the affected people.

The Army is a potent instrument for disaster relief as it is suitably poised for rapid response and for mobilising self-contained, composite task forces to any part of the country, even overseas, in conjunction with the Navy and Air Force is Being a structured and an organised force, the Indian Army manages to provide support for a full range of public relief services.