Commuters on the busy streets of Alappuzha town were taken aback on Thursday morning, what with at least three fire engines, a couple of ambulances, several police jeeps and official vehicles including that of the District Collector, all with their sirens blaring, horns honking non-stop and beacon lights flashing, zooming through the busy traffic.
They had their questions answered soon, as the episode turned out to be part of a mock drill by the National Disaster Rescue Force (NDRF), testing the district administration’s preparedness in case of an urban
flood. The drill, conducted by a 33-strong Arakonam-based unit of the CISF training in disaster management under the aegis of the National Disaster Management Authority, had school students, NCC/NSS units, volunteers from the Nehru Yuva Kendra along with teams from the district police and the departments of Revenue, Health, Fire & Rescue, Transport and Food and Civil Supplies.
Beginning at the Recreation Ground near the beach, where demonstrations on first aid and rescue drills were held, the affair moved onto the Boat Jetty where the act was repeated with gusto by the Fire & Rescue personnel, who surprised even the NDRF personnel with their cries for help after jumping into the brackish, stinking waters of the commercial canal.
“Seems our Fire & Rescue personnel have some good actors among them,” quipped District Collector Mini Antony, who as chairperson of the District Disaster Management cell, monitored the proceedings.
On the outcome, Ms. Antony told The Hindu that a few gaps and loopholes were noticed, particularly in regard with availability of equipment like search lights and rubber boats. Requests for provision of the same would be forwarded to the NDMA, she said.
At the same time, the Collector said the official machinery responded quite well. “Particularly the hospitals who were not informed in advance about the drill,” she said, adding that the traffic on the town streets however, was a matter of concern in situations when rescue vehicles had to move fast.
NDMA resource person Major General V.K. Dutta too was present.
