Sri Vijaya Puram, June 12: The Directorate of Shipping Services (DSS) conducted a landslide scenario mock drill at the Marine Dockyard on Wednesday, testing emergency preparedness, evacuation procedures and response coordination among personnel working at the facility.
The exercise was carried out under the supervision of the Nodal Officer for Disaster Management, DSS, and involved employees from various sections of the dockyard, including the Dockyard Canteen, Moulding Shop, Blacksmith Shop and Marine Dispensary.
According to officials, the mock drill simulated a landslide emergency requiring immediate evacuation and medical response. A total of 55 employees participated in the exercise, including one individual designated as an injured victim requiring rescue and first aid assistance.
As part of the scenario, personnel were evacuated from affected areas and moved to designated safe locations. Emergency response teams coordinated evacuation procedures, assessed the simulated casualty and administered first aid before completing the rescue operation.
Officials said the exercise was conducted in a systematic and coordinated manner, allowing participants to practice response protocols that would be required during an actual disaster situation.
The Andaman and Nicobar Islands are vulnerable to a range of natural hazards, including earthquakes, cyclones, heavy rainfall and landslides. Regular preparedness exercises are therefore considered an important component of disaster management planning across government departments and critical infrastructure facilities.
Mock drills help identify operational gaps, strengthen communication systems and improve coordination among different units responsible for emergency response. They also familiarize employees with evacuation routes, assembly points and safety procedures, reducing confusion during real emergencies.
The Directorate of Shipping Services stated that preparedness and resilience remain central priorities, particularly in installations where the safety of personnel and critical maritime infrastructure is involved.
The exercise was conducted under the overall supervision of the Deputy Director (in-charge), DSS, who monitored the implementation of the emergency procedures and response mechanisms.
Officials noted that such drills provide valuable opportunities to evaluate readiness levels and reinforce safety awareness among staff members. Lessons learned from the exercise may be incorporated into future disaster management planning and training programmes.
The successful completion of the drill demonstrated the ability of participating teams to respond quickly and coordinate effectively under simulated emergency conditions. Authorities said regular exercises will continue to be conducted as part of ongoing efforts to strengthen disaster preparedness across departmental establishments.
The Directorate reiterated its commitment to safeguarding employees, infrastructure and operational assets through continuous training, preparedness initiatives and periodic emergency response exercises aimed at building a culture of safety and resilience.
