Civil defence volunteers (CDV) were given tips on how to handle the aftermath of disaster with poise and calm but with reasonable speed and no sign of panic.
Deputy Commissioner PalamuAmeet Kumar said ‘ One hundred CDVs have been shortlisted in this district. Great many of them come from SarvSihkcchaAbhiyan and Red Cross chapter of Palamu. The CDVs comprise girls too and the volunteers are of varied age group a mix of energy and experience’.
Sources said an activation of CDVs was done during the Durga Puja wherein they were given jackets and helmets. They would be armed with ID cards too. About any incentive or honorarium to be given to CDVs Ameet Kumar said ‘ There is no word on this right now but one may hope it is decided in future by the government’.
DC described a few situations before a gathering of CDVs wherein he cited the aftermath of bursting of domestic lPG cylinders in houses leading to destruction and damage of houses to serious injuries to those who at the time of bursting of lPG cylinders remain close to gas stove etc. Here he said the role of CDVs gets big.
He then described another situation like houses/shops getting on fire due to short circuit where in the scene is not only horrid but most disastrous as it involves the ruination of economy. Here he reminded CDVs to be more quick on the job than to be a picture of dumb witness to destruction by fire.
However sources said none of the speakers who tipped CDVS as to how to respond to situation extra ordinary described any situation wherein huge snakes or even leopard enter the houses.
Sources said this year alone in three different houses on three different occasions in Chainpur block 7 to 8 feet long python entered the houses and held the inmates of the houses most terrified till the reptiles were either injured or given to forest department personnel.
In 2015 an adult leopard entered the house of a tribal widow in Chainpur block which was locked in a room and after 13 long hours the then field director of PTR S E H Kazmi could cage in this leopard which injured a news reporter too.
DC came very heavily upon the protesters on roads/NHs who after accident or road crash immediately gather on road/NH and jam it for hours leaving behind the injured for precious minutes when the injured could have been medically aided and here Ameet Kumar asked the CDVs to be more careful cautious and responsive to situation like this where public emotion runs high.