They are the first line of defence of our society hardly recognised and mostly unsung. That is the civil defence personnel.
In an impressive programme held last week to celebrate the 68th Raising Day of Civil Defence (CD), the participants of this voluntary force displayed the quiet role played by them during the times of peace and emergency. Established in 1964 in the Capital, CD has been placed under the jurisdiction of Divisional Commissioner, Delhi with effect from January 1, 2011. It played a significant role during the 1965 and 1971 Indo-Pak wars.
After the chief guest, S.N. Sahai, Principal Secretary (Revenue) and Divisional Commissioner was presented the guard of honour there was a march past and a group dance. What followed was probably not anticipated by the audience. Yet it was the best part of the event –– the mock drills displayed by the CD volunteers belonging to varied age groups.
Depicting a normal day in a residential locality –– children playing, people chatting, vendors hawking goods it was shown to be disrupted by several explosions leading to fire and injury. Swooping down on the scene CD personnel extinguish it using different fire fighting equipment, sand and soil and evacuate the injured after wrapping them in blankets to provide first-aid.
What followed was impressive in terms of timing, coordination and swiftness –– saving occupants from a multi-storeyed building. A quick recce by the in-charge led different groups of CD equipped with battery torches, hurricane lamps, pulleys, axes, hammers, different types of ladders, shovels, blankets, fire hocks and jumping sheets etc. taking up positions and launching into action. The Hindi commentary in tandem with the drills informed the awe struck audience of the proceedings.
Usage of jumping sheets displayed evacuation of the victims and how ladders could be used to slide down the injured gently. The physically affected people at higher elevations are rescued by using two-point suspension method whereby they are slid down on two parallel ropes tied at 60 degrees angle to the pegs on the ground. What amazed the viewers was how fast more than one person was brought down.
Keeping up the tempo generated so far, another group depicted removal of injured placed at third floor using the chair knot procedure by which the victim is tied securely to a thick rope and made to land on a jumping sheet.
The exercises elicited prompt and natural applause by everyone present. Sahai in his brief address commended the display and pointed out that the Delhi unit of CD must be prepared and at its best always to set an example for all others and since it was responsible for safeguarding the Capital and its citizens as the first line of defence. He pointed out that 11005 volunteers of 18854 member strong force had undergone basic training.
