Rescue drill at Shimla’s Jakhu Ropeway

A mock drill was held today at Jakhu Ropeway, connecting Jakhu Temple, under the leadership of Additional District Magistrate (Protocol) Jyoti Rana. The exercise began at 11 am and continued till 1:30 pm.

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The mock drill simulated rescue of individuals stranded 100 metre above ground, using chairs and ropes for their safe descent. The rescue operation lasted approximately one-and-a-half hour, involving personnel from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), Home Guard and officials from various departments. The drill started with a table-top exercise for all officials. During the session, in-charges from the NDRF, the SDRF, and Home Guard briefed participants on rescue operations during emergencies. Following this, preparedness and response capabilities of relevant departments were evaluated. The first rescue involved safely lowering a person stranded in a ropeway trolley using a chair. Subsequently, a team member from the NDRF was lowered to the ground with a rope. The mock drill also demonstrated the transport of rescued individuals to hospital. After drill, ADM Jyoti Rana said the district disaster management authority conducts such mock drills annually at the ropeway. She said such exercises were important for effectively managing emergency situations, particularly rescue of tourists in case they got stranded.

Madan Sharma, Manager, The Jagson Group, the company responsible for the construction of the ropeway, said monthly mock drills were held at Jakhu to ensure safety of visitors and for allowing swift and secure descent during emergencies.