The Andaman & Nicobar Administration, in coordination with the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) and the Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services (INCOIS), has issued a detailed public advisory ahead of the upcoming Inter-State Mock Exercise (ISME) 2025 on earthquake and tsunami preparedness, scheduled for November 4, 2025.
The large-scale exercise aims to test the Incident Response System (IRS), assess the coordination of emergency response agencies, and strengthen disaster preparedness across the island chain. The mock drill will be conducted simultaneously in South Andaman, North & Middle Andaman, and Nicobar districts between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m., involving all emergency response agencies, departments, and community stakeholders.
The Director (Disaster Management) requested citizens to remain calm and continue their daily routines as the activities are part of a scheduled preparedness drill and pose no real threat to public safety. Residents have also been advised not to panic in response to sirens, emergency vehicles, or public announcements during the exercise.
Citizens may observe increased movement of Fire Tenders, Police Vehicles, Ambulances, and Rescue Units across the islands. These mobilizations are planned to simulate realistic disaster conditions. The exercise will include mock fire incidents, evacuation drills, medical emergencies, and testing of sirens, SMS alerts, and PA systems under the supervision of trained officials from NDMA and the A&N Administration.
A key highlight of the exercise will be the testing of Tsunami Alert Sirens installed across multiple critical sites, including Secretariat, DBRAIT, DSS Marine, Chatham Saw Mill, Police Stations in Aberdeen, Chatham, Pahargaon, Bambooflat, and Shaheed Dweep, among others. The sirens will be used to issue simulated alerts at high volume as part of the exercise between 8:15 a.m. and 10:30 a.m.
According to the official schedule, sirens will be blown as follows:
- One long blast for a WATCH status (no immediate action required, monitoring ongoing),
- Two long blasts for an ALERT (movement to higher ground and deep-sea positioning of vessels advised), and
- Three long blasts for a WARNING (evacuation and movement to safer locations).
Residents are encouraged to avoid designated mock drill areas to minimize inconvenience caused by traffic diversions or crowd management. Updates regarding the exercise will be disseminated through local news outlets, official social media platforms, and public information channels.
Authorities reiterated that Andaman & Nicobar Islands fall within Seismic Zone V, making earthquake and tsunami preparedness crucial. The Directorate of Disaster Management has also circulated Do’s and Don’ts to be followed during real disasters.
Citizens are urged to pay attention to official warnings, move to higher ground immediately in the event of an alert, avoid watching waves from the shore, refrain from using elevators, and not return to coastal areas until authorities declare them safe.
Emergency Helpline Numbers, 112 (ERSS), 1070 (SEOC), and 1077 (DEOC), will remain operational round the clock.
The Administration emphasized that community participation is essential for the success of the drill. “The cooperation and understanding of the public are greatly appreciated as we collectively strive to enhance the safety and resilience of our islands,” the advisory concluded.
“Be Aware, Be Prepared, Be Safe.”
