SAMBA, JUNE 23: A Mock Exercise simulating a fire and earthquake rescue operation was conducted today at Government Higher Secondary School, Vijaypur. The exercise was organized collaboratively by the 13th Battalion of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) and the District Administration Samba.
The mock drill was conducted in the presence of Deputy Commissioner Rajesh Sharma, SDM Vijaypur, representatives from NDRF and SDRF, locals, school faculty and students.
The scenario involved a simulated incident where a fire broke out in the two-storey school building, with smoke spreading rapidly. In the exercise, three students were reported trapped on the rooftop due to the blaze. Fire and emergency services responded promptly to douse the fire. Subsequently, NDRF and SDRF teams jointly carried out a high-rise rescue operation using rope techniques.
Among the rescued, one student was simulated to have suffered burn injuries while two others were found unconscious due to smoke inhalation. All were provided first aid and handed over to the medical team for further treatment at the Civil Hospital.
The exercise was conducted from 0945 hrs to 1125 hrs, under the supervision of Team Commander Inspector/GD Bachan Singh of 13 NDRF. A total of 193 individuals, including response teams, students and staff were involved in the exercise.
A debriefing session was held post-exercise led by DC Rajesh Sharma, emphasizing the importance of preparedness, coordination and swift action in times of disaster. He appreciated the participating agencies and encouraged schools and institutions to regularly conduct such preparedness drills to build a culture of safety and resilience.
