India participates in massive 2-day tsunami drill to 'evacuate' 40,000 people

Indian authorities are coordinating with the UNESCO to practice a large-scale evacuation in the event of a tsunami hitting its eastern coast.

NDTV reported that an earthquake measuring 9.3 on the Richter scale was being simulated in Sumatra, Indonesia. India is among the 23 countries participating in the two-day mock drill being carried to prepare for any future tsunamis.

Over 15 hours, 10 Indian states and union territories will participate in the drill overseen by the Home Ministry, the National Disaster Management Agency and the Minsitry of Earth Sciences along with local administration

The drill is test of India's response mechanism as the country's 7,500 km long coast is at risk.

After the devastating Tsunami of 2004, the Tsunami Warning Center was set up in 2007 to issue warnings and advisories in the event of a disaster.

On Wednesday, in the mock drill, India will practice evacuating 40,000 people from the coast within three hours.