State-level mock drill on chemical disaster held at Verka milk plant

A state-level mock drill on managing a chemical disaster (ammonia gas leak) was organised at the Verka milk plant here on Thursday to demonstrate self-protection and preventive measures in case of such emergencies.

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The mock drill alarm was sounded at 9.30 am. Personnel from 21 departments, including National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), fire brigade, district administration, Municipal Corporation (MC), police, health department etc participated in the drill.

The mock exercise was organised by the District Disaster Management Authority (DDMA) in coordination with the State Disaster Management Authority (SDMA) and the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA). Khanna ADC Shikha Bhagat was the incident commander for the drill. MC Additional Commissioner Paramdeep Singh, ACP Narinder Singh Aujla, NDRF nodal officer Pankaj Kumar, MC Assistant Commissioner Neeraj Jain, ADFO Maninder Singh, and other senior officials were present during the mock drill, which was coordinated by the consultant of disaster management (SDMA),

Ram Chander.

Soon after the drill alarm was sounded, an incident command post was established inside the milk plant and nodal officers of all the respective departments reported there. Following this, demonstrations were held by the fire brigade, the NDRF etc to deal with the chemical disaster (ammonia gas leak). Demonstrations were also held on methods to minimise damage, safeguard lives and how people could be rescued and treated. Reports regarding the mock drill were submitted to the SDMA on the spot. A debriefing session was <

also held.

ADC Shikha Bhagat said the mock drill was held with the aim of sensitising the public and reducing the response time in case any chemical emergency was reported in the district. Lauding the efforts put in by the officials concerned, ADC Bhagat said various departments participated actively and gave demonstrations for minimising damage and safeguarding lives.