Tarun Karthick
Sri Vijaya Puram, 11 July 2025
A large-scale mock drill simulating an earthquake followed by a fire outbreak was conducted at the Armed Police Unit (APU), Police Lines on Thursday. The exercise, jointly coordinated by the Andaman & Nicobar Police and the A&N Police Fire Service, aimed to assess emergency readiness and bolster inter-agency coordination in the event of natural disasters.
Given the seismic vulnerability of the islands, the drill focused on testing the operational capabilities of personnel and their ability to respond effectively under high-pressure scenarios.
The mock exercise commenced at around 10:00 AM with the sounding of an earthquake alarm, prompting the immediate evacuation of personnel from office buildings and barracks to designated safe zones. This was followed by a simulated fire breakout in the main administrative block, activating a rapid, coordinated response from multiple departments.
Key components of the drill included:
Evacuation Procedures: Officers from the Armed Police Unit executed swift evacuations in line with standard disaster management protocols.
Firefighting Operations: Personnel from the A&N Police Fire Service deployed fire tenders, hoses, and breathing apparatus to control and extinguish the artificial blaze.
Search and Rescue Efforts: Teams conducted rescue operations to locate and stabilize mock victims trapped in simulated hazardous conditions.
Medical Response: Healthcare staff from the Directorate of Health Services (DHS) carried out on-site triage and mock casualty evacuation drills.
Senior officials from the participating agencies, including representatives from the Disaster Management Unit, closely observed the drill to assess response times, equipment deployment, and coordination efficiency.
The Andaman & Nicobar Police reiterated their commitment to public safety and disaster resilience through regular training, simulation exercises, and enhanced preparedness protocols.
