Tarun Karthick
Sri Vijaya Puram, 28 March 2025
A comprehensive Earthquake and Fire Mock Drill was conducted at the Directorate of Health Services (DHS), A&N Administration, in line with the Chief Secretary’s directive to conduct quarterly mock drills across all departments. The exercise aimed to evaluate the department’s preparedness and response capability during disasters.
The mock drill scenario and action plan were finalized during a Table Top Exercise held in the Conference Hall of DHS. The session was chaired by Dr. Suja Antony, Director (Health Services), A&N Administration.
The drill began with a simulated earthquake and fire scenario. Staff members promptly followed the ‘Drop, Cover, and Hold’ protocol for earthquake safety and evacuated the building to the designated safe zone. Section in-charges conducted a headcount and reported any missing personnel to the Incident Commander (IC).
The IC swiftly activated response teams to coordinate with the State Emergency Operation Center (SEOC – 1070), District Emergency Operation Center (DEOC – S/A – 1077), Emergency Response Support System (ERSS – 112), and other resource departments. Search and rescue operations were conducted for the missing persons, and immediate first aid was administered to the injured. The fire tender and ambulance arrived on time, and the exercise concluded with the Incident Commander declaring an ‘All Clear.’
A debriefing session followed, during which Dr. Suja Antony expressed gratitude to all resource departments, including Disaster Management, District Administration, NDRF, Police, Fire, and Electricity, for their support and active participation. She emphasized that strengthening disaster management capacity remains a top priority and reiterated that upcoming mock drills will continue to assess and improve overall preparedness.
The exercise underscored the importance of regular drills in ensuring a swift and effective response during emergencies, enhancing the safety and resilience of the Directorate of Health Services.