Mock urban fire drill in Gangtok conducted

Gangtok, Dec 18 (UNI) The fourteenth mock urban fire drill of National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) was conducted today in a shopping complex at Gangtok today.

Established in 2005, NDMA has outlined 23 such mock urban fire drills in selected towns of the country this year, said Brig.Dr.B.K.Khanna, senior consultant NDMA who was in Gangtok to oversee the exercise. Today's drill was conducted in joint operation of state disaster management department, fire services and East Sikkim district administration under the aegis of NDMA. Other line departments like forest, power, health, police and NGOs took part in the drill along with civil defence body.

As a part of the drill, a fire scenario in the busy Kanchenjunga Shopping Complex located at Lal Bazaar, Gangtok was stimulated at 11 am. Three fire brigades, two ambulances, paramedics, volunteers and other concerned agencies rushed in to coordinate disaster management, search and rescue and setting up a relief camp. The Army and ITBP units also chipped in with their efforts.

The NDMA consultant said the whole exercise was done in an excellent manner.

East Sikkim DC Vishal Chauhan said the purpose behind the drill was to coordinate the activities of all the agencies to minimize damages in event of a disaster.

UNI