The first HADR exercise ‘Samvedna’ of Indian Air Force (IAF) in association with South Asian Region nations started

The first Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) exercise ‘Samvedna’ of the Indian Air Force in association with South Asian Region nations has started off the coast of Kerala from March 12, 2018. The 6-day multilateral exercise would involve representatives from air forces of Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Nepal and the UAE. The purpose of the exercise is to galvanise all stakeholders in synergising a unified HADR efforts. The entire settings of the exercise is based on a scenario of a tsunami in the western coast of India originating from an earthquake in Makran subduction zone and resulting in post-tsunami disaster management along the western coast and western islands of India. The exercise, hosted by the Southern Air Command, will provide a clear understanding of the scope, role and task, including challenges in air operations and ensure better understanding, and sharing of response procedures among the nations.