A comprehensive Earthquake and Fire Mock Drill was conducted at the Isolation Ward of G.B. Pant Hospital as part of a quarterly safety exercise mandated by the Chief Secretary. The drill aimed to evaluate emergency response protocols, particularly among paramedical staff, ensuring swift and coordinated action during crises.
The exercise simulated an earthquake, followed by a fire outbreak. Hospital staff, including paramedics and patients, adhered to the ‘Duck, Cover, and Hold’ earthquake safety protocol before evacuating to a designated safe area in an orderly manner.
Leading the operation as Incident Commander, Dr. Arpita Saha, Additional Medical Superintendent, conducted a headcount, revealing that 11 individuals were missing. Search and rescue teams were immediately activated, while a simulated fire near the mortuary prompted the ward’s fire response team to initiate firefighting measures.
Personnel from the Fire Department, Police, District Administration, and National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) swiftly arrived at the site. Under the Incident Commander’s guidance, all agencies worked in coordination to contain the fire, rescue the missing individuals, and provide first aid. Those requiring advanced medical care were transported to the main hospital for further treatment. The drill concluded with an “All Clear” signal issued at 12:15 pm. During the debriefing session, Mr. Janik Ram, Assistant Director of the Directorate of Disaster Management, commended the timely and effective response of the medical and support staff. Dr. B. Ajith Kumar and Dr. Rajeev Ghosh, Nodal Officers from the Directorate of Health Services (DHS), expressed gratitude to all participating departments for their cooperation and commitment in ensuring the success of the exercise.
