Eros TimesDELHI:EROS TIMES: A Mega Multi State Level Mock Exercise in Delhi and NCR, on earthquake preparedness, was conducted by the Delhi Disaster Management Authority and District Disaster Management Authorities (11 districts) in Delhi along with 4 adjoining districts of Haryana (Sonipat, Gurugram, Jhajhar, Faridabad) and 3 districts of UP (Gautam Budh Nagar, Ghaziabad & Meerut).
A scenario was depicted involving an earthquake of magnitude of 7 richtor scale occurred on sohna fault line with the epicentre at 35 kms south of Delhi at the depth of 10 kms.
The potential intensity was 8.
As reported by IMD, strong tremors were experienced involving North & North West parts of country.
Further the weather was shown bad and sky was overcast.
Heavy rain was forecasted which was likely to be continuing the same for next 24 hours.
As per the scenario, major communication networks i.e. mobile network/landlines were affected, power lines and major roads were damaged at many places all over Delhi.
Large scale damages to buildings & houses were reported causing possibility of heavy causalities and damages to properties.
Electronic media was showing mass destruction and panic all over. The earthquake was followed by aftershocks.
Immediately the Incident commander of the State i.e. Divisional Commissioner Delhi got into action and activated the state EOC (Emergency Operation Centre) situated at 5-Sham Nath Marg, Delhi-110054.
He also intimated about the same to the Lt. Governor, Anil Baijal, Chief Minister of Delhi, Arvind Kejriwal, Minister Incharge, Kailash Gahlot and Chief Secretary of Delhi, Vijay Dev.
All the district Incident Commander swung into action and activated their respective district EOCs. Messages were sent to all the ESFs through wireless, V.Sat, satellite phone and 11 HAM Radios.
As per the Incident Response System, Essential Support Functionaries for disaster management i.e. Delhi Police, Health/Medical Services, Fire Services, MCDs, PWD, Power Department, Home Guards, Delhi Jal Board, Transport and Food & Supply Department were requested to reach, with their manpower, material/equipments necessary for the kind of damages which were reported.
As a consequence of massive earthquake, destruction of communication system, road and bridges, chemical leakages, fire etc.
were reported. Apart from this, State DDMA roped in Army, NDRF, Home Guards, Air Force, Central Armed Police Forces (ITBP, BSF, CRPF & CISF) for requisite help. 5 teams of NDRF, 11 columns of Army and 6 columns of BSFs were called in and they led the task forces at 17 sites.
In addition, 5022 Civil Defense Volunteers, 1000(approx) police personnel were involved and 66 sites were taken up during the mock exercise for carrying out search and rescue operation by DDMAs.
Fire tenders (at 40 places) ambulances (at all 66 places) were rushed in as a part of task forces teams alongwith MCD teams, police teams, Civil Defense Teams and other ESFs depending on the nature of damages/casualties in all districts. The medical facilities of nearby Govt.
Hospitals were utilized. 180 Civil Defense Volunteers as dead, 460 with major injuries and 500 with minor injuries were involved during the exercise.
Lt. Governor, Anil Baijal, Chief Minister of Delhi, Arvind Kejriwal and Chief Secretary of Delhi, Vijay Dev visited the State EOC at around 11.00 AM and took a stock of situation of the preparedness and progress of search & rescue operation being carried out in 11 districts in Delhi.
The Divisional Commissioner/State Incident Commander apprised them about the magnitude of earthquake, its impact, the damages and the search and rescue operations being carried out by the district Incident Commanders.
Lt. Governor, Anil Baijal, Chief Minister of Delhi, Arvind Kejriwal then proceeded to visit and witnessed an actual rescue & search exercise at Bara Hindu Rao Hospital.
In the end a debriefing session was conducted by the State Incident Commander i.e. Divisional Commissioner in coordination with NDMA, all the District DMAs to have their feedback and lessons learnt.
The exercise will enable all ESFs in dealing with such disasters with better preparedness and greater synergy.
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