Tarun Karthick
Sri Vijaya Puram, 13 February 2025
In an ongoing effort to enhance disaster preparedness, the Directorate of Disaster Management, Andaman and Nicobar Administration, conducted a mock earthquake drill at the Directorate of Social Welfare, Goalghar, Sri Vijaya Puram, recently. The exercise was organized in coordination with the Andaman and Nicobar Police, Health Department, and Fire Services to test the response mechanism during emergencies.
A total of 62 personnel from the Social Welfare Department and other resource agencies participated in the drill. The exercise simulated a real-time earthquake scenario to evaluate the response and coordination among various departments.
Upon receiving the mock drill alert, the department triggered its emergency response mechanism. Whistles and the public address (PA) system were used to issue warnings to the staff. The team immediately informed the District Emergency Operations Centre (DEOC), State Emergency Operations Centre (SEOC), and the control rooms of the Fire and Health Departments.
Following the alert, evacuation, search, and rescue operations were carried out. Fire tenders and ambulances promptly reached the mock site. The teams from the Fire and Health Departments safely rescued the “injured” and provided necessary medical attention.
The mock drill concluded at 11:45 AM and was followed by a debriefing session. Observers highlighted the findings and gaps identified during the exercise. Officials from the resource departments emphasized the need to strengthen preparedness and provide basic safety training to the staff to ensure effective crisis management in the future.