Following the February earthquake, the Delhi Disaster Management Authority (DDMA) is actively reviewing and strengthening its preparedness measures to effectively respond to any future natural disasters. The DDMA has also highlighted its comprehensive Delhi Disaster Management Plan (DDMP), which includes a specific Earthquake Action Plan. A press release on these developments was issued on March 18, 2025.
It is important to note that the primary responsibility for rescue, relief, and rehabilitation efforts during a natural disaster lies with the respective State Governments. The Central Government provides supplementary support, including logistics and financial assistance, in cases of severe disasters beyond the capacity of state resources.
As per the Disaster Management Act, 2005, the State Executive Committee, in this case, the DDMA, is responsible for preparing the State Disaster Management Plan (SDMP). The DDMP, developed after consultation with local and district authorities and considering guidelines from the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), has been approved by the State Authority. The DDMA is also mandated to regularly review and update the State-level response plans.
The DDMP includes provisions for disaster preparedness and response, including a dedicated Earthquake Action Plan.
Review Meeting and NDMA Collaboration
In light of the earthquake of 4.0 magnitude that struck Delhi on February 17, 2025, a review meeting was convened by the Hon’ble Lieutenant Governor with the NDMA on March 12, 2025. The agenda of this meeting focused on assessing Delhi’s vulnerability and risk and reviewing the Earthquake Preparedness Plan. The NDMA presented the Terms of Reference for the Earthquake Preparedness Plan during this meeting.
The NDMA has been actively facilitating various preparedness and capacity-building measures in Delhi, including:
- Multi-State Level Mock Exercises: NDMA has been assisting Delhi and other states in conducting multi-state level mock exercises to test their preparedness for various hazards based on their vulnerability profiles.
- Past Exercises for Delhi: The NDMA has conducted several Table Top Exercises and Mock Exercises specifically for Delhi, including:
- June 15, 28-30, 2017: Earthquake Scenario
- June 12, 27-28, 2019: Earthquake (Multi State Mock Exercise)
- August 20, 2020: Earthquake Scenario (Table Top Exercise)
- March 22-24, 2023: Earthquake (Multi State Table Top Exercise)
- Post-Earthquake Awareness Initiatives: Following the recent tremor, the NDMA has undertaken additional awareness generation activities:
- A TV panel discussion program, “Aapda Ka Samna,” was recorded and broadcasted on Doordarshan TV Network at national and regional levels on March 2 and March 8, 2025, respectively.
- A series of street plays (Nukkad Natak) have been conducted across various areas of Delhi throughout March 2025.
- Various updates and informative creatives related to earthquakes have been posted on the NDMA’s social media platforms.
