PIONEER EDGE NEWS SERVICE/Dehradun
A mock drill will be held in all 13 districts on July 2 to check preparedness to undertake rescue and relief efforts during disaster scenarios likely during the monsoon. Disaster Management and Rehabilitation secretary Vinod Kumar Suman issued necessary instructions for this exercise during an orientation and coordination conference here on Friday.
Stating that the drill is being undertaken on chief minister Pushkar Singh Dhami’s instructions, Suman said that it will be organised at about 70 locations across the State, excluding locations where it has already been done. The scenarios in the mock drill will include waterlogging in residential areas, danger to embankments, safe exit of children from schools, landslide blocking the road, supplying relief material to cut-off areas, alert issued before release of water from hydro power projects and helicopter rescue of people stranded on roofs.
Officials informed that the disaster response capacity of various departments will be tested during the exercise during which better coordination for search and rescue will also be practised. The mock exercise will also include a practice of setting up relief camps while facilitation of electricity, water, food, primary treatment, food for children and arrangements for pregnant women will also be tested in real time. Police and Home Guard personnel will also be posted in the relief camps for the safety of women and children. Suman said that special focus will be laid on community participation in the mock drill. With the locals being the first responders in disaster scenarios, it is necessary to strengthen community-based disaster management, he said. The active participation of ex-servicemen, ex-personnel of Central Armed Police Forces, voluntary organisations, National Cadet Corps, National Service Scheme, Red Cross and other groups will also be ensured in the exercise.
The secretary informed that various disaster management and emergency response agencies will exhibit equipment and resources along with a practice of using these during the table top exercise to be held before the mock drill.
