Ahmedabad Airport Conducts Comprehensive Earthquake Drill for Disaster Preparedness
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Ahmedabad, Feb 25 (NationPress) A comprehensive mock drill simulating an earthquake and its subsequent effects took place at the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport in Ahmedabad on Wednesday, aimed at evaluating emergency response strategies and enhancing inter-agency collaboration during natural disasters.
The disaster management exercise was facilitated by the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) in partnership with the Airports Authority of India (AAI), the Gujarat State Disaster Management Authority (GSDMA), and the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), taking place at the Integrated Cargo Terminal.
This multi-hazard exercise was crafted to gauge readiness levels and the efficacy of collective actions in the face of a significant seismic event impacting critical infrastructure.
The simulation mirrored an earthquake and its resultant challenges, such as structural damages and interruptions to airport operations.
Officials indicated that the aim was to assess response protocols, test the deployment of the Incident Response System (IRS), scrutinize communication pathways, and evaluate resource mobilization under duress.
Participants included representatives from various central and state government bodies, alongside teams from the NDRF, State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), police, and fire services.
Personnel from the airport, teams from the Collector's office, CISF, Aapda Mitra, as well as other essential stakeholders, actively participated to guarantee thorough involvement across operational and emergency management sectors.
According to officials, this mock exercise offered a chance to reassess Standard Operating Procedures and pinpoint areas for enhancement.
It also sought to bolster cooperation among agencies that would need to collaborate during an actual emergency.
An official remarked, "This drill is intended to fortify inter-agency cooperation and ensure prompt, organized decision-making during complex disaster scenarios. Such exercises are vital for identifying operational deficiencies and strengthening collective readiness to protect lives and critical infrastructure."
Authorities noted that the results from the exercise would be analyzed to further fine-tune emergency preparedness strategies at the airport and among relevant departments.