Guwahati, Feb. 14: Kamrup (metro) administration will conduct mock drills in all the 31 wards in the city to prepare all stakeholders to tackle any natural disaster.

Addressing participants in a mock drill on earthquakes on the premises of Cotton Collegiate Higher Secondary School, Panbazar, deputy commissioner M. Angamuthu said apart from similar mock drills, a disaster management committee will be formed in each ward.

"We have divided the city into three zones to carry out the mock drill programme. These are central, eastern and western zones," he said.

The District Disaster Management Authority in collaboration with the Guwahati Municipal Corporation and Assam State Disaster Management Authority organised a tabletop exercise and mock drill in the city today.

The two-day programme held on the school premises was attended by stakeholders related to disaster management agencies, PWD, police, SDRF, NDRF, civil defence, NCC, state health department and students.

"The main objective of the programme is to examine the capability of the different responding agency and to build a participatory approach towards disaster management. We will continue our efforts to involve everyone in disaster response system," Pulak Mahanta, chief executive officer of District Disaster Management Authority, said.

"Entire Guwahati is vulnerable to earthquake as the city is in seismic zone V. Besides, some of the wards are more vulnerable to waterlogging and landslides. So, we should be prepared for all kinds of disasters," said Rajib Prakash Barua, project coordinator of Assam State Disaster Management.

GMC commissioner Sanjib Gohain Barua, mayor Mrigen Sarania, Cotton Collegiate High School principal Dibakar Sarma and other officials participated in today's programme.

ASDMA project manager Muktaram Deka gave a PowerPoint presentation on disaster management system.

The mock drill will be held tomorrow on the institution premises.