Haryana needs effective communication system, adequate hydraulic fire fighting system and hydraulic platform ladders for high-rise buildings, to be prepared to deal with a natural disaster like earthquake.
Besides, there is a need to develop a separate wireless or satellite communication network, set up emergency operation centres and establish separate helpline for disaster in Haryana.
These were the initial findings brought out after the mega mock drill conducted across 22 districts of Haryana on Thursday.
The mock drill was conducted for a hypothetical earthquake measuring 6.8 on the richter scale with MSK intensity 8 having its epicenter at west of Gurugram along the Jaipur ridge and the Sohna fault line.
The mock drills were conducted in collaboration with National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) at 122 locations across 22 districts simultaneously in Haryana. The exercise in respective locations was started at 10 am by sounding of sirens and continued till two hours.
In Haryana with the population of 2.5 crore (census 2011), total number of casualties identified in this mega mock exercise was 257 and injured were 1717.
As many as 136 teams were deployed in the districts for response consisted of district machinery and central agencies. Also, six columns of Army, eight from NDRF and two each from CRPF, NSG and ITBP were deployed in the districts for assisting in response during the exercise.
Overall, more than 10000 personnel from various organizations and departments participated in the mock exercise. The emergency support functionaries like police, health, fire, ambulance, power and PWD also participated in the mock drill.
Haryana falls in the seismic zone IV, III, & II. Tremors have been felt in the sate whenever there is an earthquake in the Himalayan foothills due to its proximity to the hill states.
Haryana Revenue and Disaster Management Minister, Capt. Abhimanyu while talking to the mediapersons after the mock drill said overall, the exercise was successful and response was good. Some shortcomings have been pointed out in the exercise and the government will work to address such gaps, said he.
He said that right from the Chief Minister, Chief Secretary, officers of district administration and central agencies have collectively made efforts for success of the exercise. The Deputy Commissioners have been directed to follow-up the exercise for 10 days so as to ascertain the additional requirements of equipments and other needs, said Capt. Abhimanyu.
Giving details, the Minister said that all occupants of designated buildings conducted the duck, cover and hold activity. Then evacuation drills were got conducted in the schools, offices, residential complexes, shopping complexes, hospitals and major hazardous units in the state. Telecom services, electricity and water supply were gradually restored by departments concerned. Certain districts used drones to assess damage to initiated effective response, he said.
Some learning from the mock exercise are requirement of a separate communication network, mobile emergency operation centres, drones and aerial survey could be useful, a separate helpline for disaster management and retrofittings of all important buildings needs to be done, said Capt. Abhimanyu.
Haryana Civil Secretariat and New Secretariat in Chandigarh also participated in the mock drill. While the estimated evacuation time for the Civil Secretariat was 20 minutes, the employees were evacuated in 11 minutes during the exercise, he said.
When asked about shortcomings observed during the exercise, he said that at Rewari, police communication system was weak and we felt there is a need for strengthening wireless or satellite communication
system.
It was also observed that there is a need of high ladders for carrying out rescue operations for high-rise buildings and hydraulic fire fighting system is also required besides strengthening the existing fire fighting system, he added.
The Minister said that drones were also used during the mock drill in Hisar, Gurugram, Faridabad, Jhajjar.
The government will be procuring drones for aerial surveys and have also ordered satellite phones. Besides, suggestions have been given to set up mobile emergency operation centres in the state,
he added.
Haryana falls in high seismic zone and therefore, the region is highly vulnerable to earthquakes, he said while adding that the idea of the entire mock exercise was to check preparedness at various levels to deal with a natural disaster like earthquake.
It is for the first time in the country that a mega mega mock drill to check preparedness of earthquake has been conducted in the entire state, he added.
It was informed that for ensuring the preparedness to deal with natural disaster, the State Government has made safety plans for 4000 schools, 650 villages, all colleges, railways stations, mini-secretariats, judicial complexes.