Tarun Karthick
Sri Vijaya Puram, 12 July 2025
In a major display of inter-agency coordination and emergency preparedness, the Andaman & Nicobar Command on 10th July 2025, conducted a large-scale mock drill simulating an air crash and mass casualty evacuation at Veer Savarkar International Airport.
Coordinated by INS Utkrosh, the comprehensive exercise aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of emergency response protocols and test synergy between military and civil stakeholders. The simulation brought together key agencies including INHS Dhanvantari, Directorate of Health Services, State Disaster Management Authority, GB Pant Hospital, Pillar Hospital, Civil Police, CISF, airline operators, and the Airport Authority of India.
The drill commenced with a simulated crash of a commercial aircraft, prompting immediate action from INS Utkrosh’s safety services team. The team quickly extinguished a mock onboard fire and initiated casualty evacuation, followed by crash and salvage operations. Simultaneously, a triage zone was established by the medical unit of INS Utkrosh, where trained personnel provided first aid and resuscitation to simulated survivors.
A total of 14 ambulances—six from the Armed Forces and eight from civil authorities—were deployed to the scene, ensuring rapid transport of mock casualties to GB Pant Hospital, INHS Dhanvantari, and Pillar Hospital. Medical teams at these facilities re-triaged 130 simulated victims, activated crisis expansion wards, and assessed the readiness of surgical teams and operation theatres.
Observers from the Andaman & Nicobar Command and the Civil Administration closely monitored the exercise to objectively evaluate response capabilities and identify any operational gaps.
This high-intensity simulation reinforced the Islands’ robust disaster management framework and highlighted the unwavering commitment of both civil and military agencies to ensuring passenger safety and operational resilience in the region.
