“Drop, Cover, and Hold”: SSB 36th Battalion Conducts Earthquake Mock Drill in Gyalshing Schools
Gyalshing, Sikkim February 23, 2026 — In a proactive step to enhance disaster preparedness among students and educators, the Disaster Management Team (DMT) of the 36th Battalion, Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB), organized a comprehensive earthquake mock drill in Gyalshing today.
The vital safety exercise was conducted in close coordination with the District Disaster Management Authority (DDMA), Gyalshing, at two prominent local institutions: PM Shri Girls Senior Secondary School in Kyongsa and St. Mary’s Convent School, Gyalshing.
Training the Next Generation for Emergencies
The primary objective of the joint drill was to equip students and school staff with critical survival skills and safety measures to be adopted during seismic events.
Given the Himalayan region’s vulnerability to earthquakes, officials emphasized the critical importance of a coordinated response. All students and staff members present during the exercise were sensitized on how to avoid panic, maintain alertness, and strictly adhere to prescribed safety guidelines when disaster strikes.
Hands-on Survival Techniques
During the interactive program, the highly trained SSB Disaster Management Team provided live demonstrations of crucial survival tactics, including:
“Drop, Cover, and Hold”: The universally recommended immediate response to protect oneself from falling debris during tremors.
Safe Evacuation: Step-by-step procedures for the prompt and orderly evacuation of classrooms and multi-story school buildings.
First Aid & Safe Zones: Detailed instructions on how to identify safe locations within the school premises and administer basic first aid to the injured before emergency medical services arrive.
The initiative has been widely appreciated by the school administrations as it plays a crucial role in building a disaster-resilient society starting at the grassroots level.
