Sri Vijaya Puram, August 12: The Directorate of Shipping Services (DSS) conducted an earthquake mock drill at its Marine Dockyard on Tuesday as part of efforts to strengthen disaster preparedness and ensure personnel are equipped to respond effectively during emergencies. The exercise involved the evacuation of 209 personnel and included a simulated rescue operation designed to test emergency response procedures.
The drill was organised under the supervision of the Nodal Officer for Disaster Management, DSS, and witnessed the participation of all employees of the Marine Dockyard along with members of the Directorate’s Disaster Management Team.
As part of the exercise, authorities evacuated all 209 personnel to the designated shelter point in accordance with the established emergency response protocol. The mock scenario also included the rescue of one simulated injured person, who was immediately provided first aid before being evacuated by the response team.
The exercise was conducted to reinforce preparedness for earthquake-related emergencies while promoting discipline and familiarity with standard operating procedures among personnel.
According to the Directorate, the drill was carried out in a coordinated manner, demonstrating response protocols and inter-agency cooperation during the simulated emergency. The exercise was conducted under the overall supervision of L.T. Shiju Cheriyan, Deputy Director (In-Charge), Directorate of Shipping Services.
Following the completion of the mock exercise and after the situation was declared normal, all personnel returned safely to their respective workstations.
The drill formed part of the Directorate’s preparedness measures to familiarise employees with evacuation procedures, rescue protocols and coordinated emergency response mechanisms during disaster situations. The exercise also provided an opportunity to assess operational readiness and ensure that personnel could respond in an organised manner during a simulated earthquake emergency while following the designated safety procedures.
