Tarun Karthick
Sri Vijaya Puram, 24 March 2025
In adherence to the Chief Secretary’s directive mandating quarterly mock drills across all departments, the Directorate of Disaster Management, A&N Administration, conducted an Earthquake and Fire Mock Drill on March 21 at the Department of Environment & Forests, Van Sadan, Sri Vijaya Puram. The drill aimed to assess and enhance the department’s disaster response capabilities.
The exercise commenced with a Table Top Exercise in the morning, where Mr. Ritu Raj Singh, Additional Principal Chief Conservator of Forests, recounted his experiences during the 2004 earthquake while serving in North Andaman. He underscored the importance of active participation and seamless coordination among Disaster Management, District Administration, A&N Police, Health, Fire, and NDRF personnel to ensure the drill’s effectiveness.
The mock drill began at 11:10 am and involved critical activities such as practicing the ‘Duck, Cover & Hold’ procedure for earthquake safety, sounding the fire alarm, safe evacuation of personnel, and conducting a headcount by Section In-charges. Communication channels with SEOC (1070), DEOC (S/A) (1077), ERSS (112), and Resource Departments were tested. Search and rescue operations were executed to locate missing persons, and first aid was administered to the injured. The Fire Tender and ambulance arrived on time, and the drill concluded with an ‘All Clear’ message from the Incident Commander.
A debriefing session followed at 11:40 am, during which the Incident Commander commended the staff and Resource Departments for their coordinated efforts. He assured that any gaps identified during the drill would be thoroughly reviewed and addressed to strengthen future preparedness. (Story Based on PR)