While the fishermen of Pillaichavady were engaged in their daily chores on a Sunday morning, members of Emergency Support Functions (ESF) went around their village alerting the residents about the arrival of ‘Megh’ cyclone, with wind speed of 80 kmph, at 8 a.m.
The residents were asked to take shelter at the Government School for Visually Handicapped and Hearing Impaired.
Vehicles assembledBy 8.30 a.m., jeeps, ambulances, bulldozers, tractors, corporation vans were lined up. At 9 a.m., staff members from 16 government departments were at the village clearing tree branches, resurrecting poles and rescuing the injured and those trapped in houses.
However, the warning and rush of activities only brought smile on the faces of people. “It is just a mock operation. There is no cyclone,” said a woman selling fish in Pillaichavady.
Unflustered by the warning, the men who ventured into sea to catch fish continued their work while women were seen washing clothes, selling fish and doing housework. Children gathered around the officers, curiously watching their next move.
The Department of Revenue and Disaster Management had organised the mock rescue drill to train the staff of Emergency Support Functions and create awareness among the public on disaster management.
District Collector P. Jawahar said: “We simulated a scenario of a cyclone with an intensity of 80 kmph hypothetically named as ‘Megh’ (clouds). It was supposed to cross the village from 8 a.m. to 8.30 a.m.”
Staff of 16 departmentsStaff of nearly 16 government departments including police, fire services, revenue, PWD and others were involved in the mock drill. “Nearly 16 departments are part of the Emergency Support Functions. The aim of the drill was to bring them on to the same platform. It was to train the staff and volunteers to coordinate and complement each other during disaster management.”
The scenarios in the mock drill included announcement, voluntary and forceful evacuation, clearing tree branches using JCB, rescuing people trapped in houses, boat and fishermen caught in the sea. “A disaster causes chaos among the public. We demonstrated how such scenarios can be managed efficiently,” said Mr.Jawahar.
‘Helicam’ usedHe added that the entire mock drill was documented using a helicam. A comprehensive report would be submitted to the relief and rehabilitation commissioner. “Later, it will be submitted to a state-level body or state disaster management authority under the chairmanship of chief secretary. They will assess whether the district can actually handle it. In case it cannot, they will appeal to the neighbouring states or to other bodies like Indian Coast Guard, National Disaster Management or neighbouring state governments,” said the District Collector.
Communication centresSenior Superintendent of Police V.J.Chandran communication plays a crucial role during such situations. “There will be static communication centres and wireless handsets given to officers.
“We have quick reaction team from police Indian Reserve Battalion; those commandos will be put in service, Pondicherry Armed Police Service also has trained personnel,” Mr. Chandran said.
