Tarun Karthick
Sri Vijaya Puram, 13 March 2025
The Directorate of Disaster Management, Andaman & Nicobar Administration, conducted a mock drill on earthquake and fire safety at Balika Niketan, Social Welfare Department, Attam Pahar, Sri Vijaya Puram on Tuesday. The drill aimed to enhance disaster preparedness and response capabilities.
A total of 19 children, 10 senior citizens, and 17 staff members of Balika Niketan actively participated in the exercise. The drill commenced at 12:30 PM with the sounding of a siren. Participants immediately followed the ‘Duck-Cover and Hold’ protocol for earthquake safety before evacuating to designated safe zones.
Following a headcount, a Search and Rescue (SAR) operation was launched for missing individuals. A fire tender was deployed to manage the simulated fire incident, while an ambulance transported the injured to the hospital for medical attention.
Officials from the Disaster Management Department, Police, Fire Services, National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), District Administration, and Health Department observed the drill. They lauded the participants for their preparedness and execution of safety measures, emphasizing the importance of conducting such drills regularly to strengthen disaster response capabilities at Balika Niketan.