Sri Vijaya Puram, June 4: A full-scale mock drill simulating an earthquake and fire emergency was conducted today at the Directorate of Science and Technology, Dollygunj, as part of quarterly drills mandated by the Chief Secretary to test departmental preparedness.
The exercise began with a tabletop session involving departmental staff and personnel from allied departments including Disaster Management, Police, Health, Electricity, APWD, and Fire Services. The objective was to define disaster scenarios and assign clear roles to response teams.
At 11:15 am, the drill commenced with the ‘duck, cover, and hold’ protocol, followed by a building evacuation. Emergency communication was established with SEOC (1070), DEOC (1077), and ERSS (112). A simulated fire breakout was addressed by a responding fire tender, while missing individuals were retrieved and handed over to a first-aid team for treatment.
The drill concluded with an ‘All Clear’ signal. During the debrief, disaster management officials stressed the importance of regular rehearsals to improve coordination and response. Stakeholders also proposed updates in equipment and processes to enhance the islands’ disaster resilience.
