In an effort to assess the preparedness of disaster management teams in handling gas leakage incidents in industrial areas, a joint mock drill was organized by the Disaster Management department of the Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC), along with the Industrial Security Corporation and Tata Motors. The mock drill took place at the Tata Motors facility in Chinchwad.
The primary objective of this mock drill was to simulate crisis situations and test the response capabilities of the teams involved. During a disaster, it is crucial to determine the response time of the fire brigade teams and other emergency services, as well as the effectiveness of their actions. To ensure continuous preparedness, a crisis management training program will be organized every three months, with the participation of other companies. Additionally, the Fire Department will provide emergency training to volunteers and citizens, as stated by Joint Commissioner Chandrakant Indalkar.
The details of the mock drill were kept confidential, with only firefighting officials and employees being informed of the emergency situation. This allowed an accurate assessment of the response time for the fire brigade, medical teams, and relevant machinery to reach the site and bring the situation under control. The municipal corporation and Tata Motors’ firefighting team demonstrated excellent response and coordination during the mock drill, as commended by Om Prakash Bahiwal, the chief of the disaster management cell of Pimpri Chinchwad.
The PCMC will continue to organize such mock drills to raise awareness among companies in the city, enabling them to envision and prepare for crisis situations. Commissioner Shekhar Singh has emphasized the importance of collaboration with the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and the police force to conduct on-site and off-site mock drills every three to four months. These drills will help enhance the overall preparedness and response capabilities of the city in handling industrial gas leakage incidents.
