ITBP jawan killed during disaster management mock exercise

Gurgaon, Haryana, Dec 1 (UNI) A jawan of the Indo-Tibetan Border Police was killed during a mock 'disaster management exercise' at DLF City Centre Mall here this afternoon.

Constable Parmanand Negi, 32, of the ITBP came under the wheels of a fire tender while he was lying as a 'dummy patient' during the mock exercise at about 1230 hrs at DLF City Centre 'DT Mall', said sources.

As there was smoke all over, due to the ongoing 'fire-cum-chemical leak exercise' in high-rise buildings being conducted by the National Disaster Management Authority in cooperation with other security and safety agencies, the fire tender which was to rush for rescue operations during the drill, could not see the jawan and the accident took place.

Negi, who was posted at Greater Noida, died before he could be rushed to the hospital for medical treatment.

His wife is also working with the ITBP.

NDMA spokesman Brigadier (Retd) B K Khanna, while terming the accident ''unfortunate'' said investigations were on in the case.

''The Gurgaon police is working on the matter,''he added.

The exercise, part of the NDMA drill to be conducted all over the country, was done to review and ensure state-of-the-art preparedness during disasters and involved various agencies like local District Administration, Fire Service, Pollution and Industries Department, Municipal Authority, Hospital, Civil Defence, Home Guards, BSNL, Electricity and Water Department, he said.

''The objective was to evaluate coordination among various emergency support functions and identify areas of public-private partnership in disaster management.'' UNI AN MS KN1921