HT Correspondent
KOKRAJHAR, July 20: In a proactive step towards enhancing emergency response capabilities, NTPC Bongaigaon Salakati successfully conducted a Joint Mega Mock Drill on Saturday.
The extensive drill, supervised by GM Thangzom, commandant, CISF, focused on earthquake, chlorine leakage, and flood scenario preparedness. The drill commenced at the New Administrative Building outside the plant premises, simulating a major earthquake scenario with Assam as the epicenter. This exercise was part of NTPC Bongaigaon Salakati’s Disaster Management Plan.
It involved realistic scenarios, including the simulation of a magnitude 7 earthquake, leading to significant structural impacts at the simulated site. The drill began at 10:00 am and was conducted under the vigilant eye of chief incident controller Akhilesh Singh, head of project, NTPC Bongaigaon Salakati, along with Induri S Reddy, GM (O&M), Ashutosh Biswas, GM (Operation), and other senior officials.
The CISF, along with the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), and local police, promptly informed employees and initiated rescue operations within 15 minutes of the simulated earthquake. The response teams demonstrated exceptional coordination and efficiency, showcasing surface casualty recovery, rope rescue techniques, and other strategic recoveries.
MS Kandari, assistant commandant, CISF (Fire) at NTPC Bongaigaon Salakati, briefed the team on the incident and ensured the smooth coordination of the drill, effectively managing the dynamics of the emergency response.
Following the earthquake drill, the teams conducted a mock drill for a chlorine leakage disaster. This scenario involved the search and rescue of workers who were simulated to be trapped and unconscious. Finally, a flood-like situation was also simulated at the NTPC reservoir, where the NDRF and SDRF practiced underwater search and rescue operations, including the recovery of simulated casualties.
Akhilesh Singh provided valuable insights on improvement areas during the debriefing session held at the fire station, emphasising the importance of readiness and rapid response in disaster scenarios.
The drill concluded successfully at 12:30 pm, with a comprehensive debriefing by Ashish Kumar, deputy commandant, and MS Kandari, AC/Fire. The exercise not only tested the preparedness of NTPC Bongaigaon’s emergency response teams but also reinforced the safety protocols and readiness measures essential for dealing with potential disasters.
NTPC Bongaigaon Salakati remains committed to maintaining the highest safety standards and ensuring the well-being of its personnel and the surrounding community through rigorous training and preparedness initiatives.
