A Mock Drill on emergency preparedness and quick response was organised in H.P. Secretariat premises to sensitize the employees to protect against disastrous situations like fire, unforeseen incidents, mishaps etc. here today. Jawans of Home-Guards, Civil Defence, Fire Services etc. gave demo to contain the fire incidents.

Speaking on the occasion, Ajay Bhandari, Secretary, GAD said that such demos would not only sensitize the employees and people about the disastrous management but for general interests of the society to generate awareness among them.

He said that to create mass awareness about do’s and don’ts during disasters, there was also a dire need to organize such mock drills on disaster management. He said that there was a need to strengthen communication system which played vital role in emergent situations for availability of prompt assistance to disaster victims. Bhandari said that mock drill exercise remained successful in H.P. Secretariat with the assistance of fire fighting/fire safety, search, rescue and evaluation and other teams formed for the purpose.

Gopal Sharma, Additional Secretary, Secretariat Administration said that main purpose of organizing a Mock Drill in H.P. Secretariat was to sensitize employees and people to combat the fire incidents. He said that such mock drill would also be organized from time to time in Secretariat. He said tat a meeting of Committee and Teams formed for this purpose would be held tomorrow in Secretariat to give feedback of Mock Drill and to chalk out future plans to cope with such types of situation. He said that Smt. Rajwant Sandhu, Chief Secretary also supervised the exercise on the occasion.

He further said that the coordination of Committee and Teams formed for the purpose remained successful. Two fire brigades alongwith fire personnel also monitored the situation. The Army (ARTRAC) and District Officers also reached the site.