Tarun Karthick
Sri Vijaya Puram, 26 March 2025
In line with the Chief Secretary’s directive for quarterly mock drills across all Departments, the Directorate of Disaster Management, A&N Administration, conducted an Earthquake and Fire Mock Drill on March 24, 2025, at the Directorate of Tribal Welfare, A&N Administration, Sri Vijaya Puram. The exercise aimed to evaluate the disaster preparedness and response capabilities of departmental staff and emergency response teams.
The mock drill began with a Table Top Discussion where officials finalized the drill scenario and assigned roles and responsibilities to department personnel and emergency responders. The drill was initiated at 11:10 am, during which staff followed the ‘Duck, Cover & Hold’ technique for earthquake safety before evacuating to designated safe zones. Fire alarms were triggered, and communication was swiftly established with the State Emergency Operation Centre (SEOC) (1070), District Emergency Operation Centre (DEOC) (S/A) (1077), Emergency Response Support System (ERSS) (112), and other relevant resource departments.
Search and rescue teams conducted operations to locate missing individuals, while first aid was provided to the injured. The Fire Tender and ambulance reached the site promptly, ensuring timely response. The exercise concluded with an ‘All Clear’ signal from the Incident Commander, indicating that the situation was under control.
A debriefing session followed at 11:40 am, where officials from the Directorate of Disaster Management, District Administration, A&N Police, Fire, and Health Departments reviewed the execution of the drill. They lauded the successful coordination and emphasized the importance of regular training to enhance disaster preparedness among staff.
A press release from the Directorate of Disaster Management highlighted that such exercises play a crucial role in improving response efficiency and minimizing risks during real emergencies.