Tarun Karthick
Sri Vijaya Puram, 22 May 2025
In line with the Chief Secretary’s directive mandating quarterly mock drills across all departments of the Andaman and Nicobar Administration, the Directorate of Disaster Management conducted a forest fire mock drill at Brindaban Reserve Forest-I, Teak Plantation, Tushnabad, South Andaman on Wednesday.
The drill aimed to assess the preparedness and coordinated response of the Forest Department and other emergency services in the event of a forest fire.
At approximately 11:15 a.m., a simulated fire was reported in the Teak Plantation area. The Forest Range Office in Tushnabad immediately activated its response protocol. Under the direction of the Assistant Conservator of Forests (ACF), the deployed team began creating firebreaks by clearing surrounding vegetation and used the traditional beating method to control the fire.
Concurrently, the ACF coordinated with key emergency support services. Personnel from the A&N Police arrived at the scene to manage law and order, while fire tenders supported by forest staff worked to douse the blaze. During the mock drill, three forest personnel were rendered unconscious due to smoke inhalation and were swiftly transported to medical facilities by ambulance.
The drill concluded with a debriefing session where Mr. Janik Ram, Assistant Director of the Directorate of Disaster Management, praised the Forest Department and supporting departments — Police, Fire Services, and Health — for their timely and efficient response. He lauded the successful execution of the exercise, emphasizing the importance of such drills in strengthening disaster preparedness across the islands.