Mock drills at 12 Metro stations

The Delhi Disaster Management Authority will join hands with the National Disaster Management Authority to conduct mock drills at 12 Metro stations on Saturday.

The Delhi Disaster Management Authority will join hands with the National Disaster Management Authority to conduct mock drills at 12 Metro stations on Saturday.

The exercises, to assess the preparedness of Metro station officials to tackle emergencies, are expected to cause delays during the morning rush hour, especially because the authorities have not mentioned when the drills will be conducted. Sources, however, revealed that the drills will be held between 10am and noon.

HT Image

The necessity of such mock drills was called into question after similar exercises in February, when commuters passively sat around as disaster management teams played their parts.

However, a Delhi Metro Rail Corporation official described them as “very important” as any emergency could affect 20 lakh daily commuters.

A Metro station from each of the nine revenue districts has been chosen for the drills. Two Metro stations from the northwest district, however, will participate in the drills.

“During the drills, scenarios would range from bomb blasts to strong earthquakes and terrorist strikes,” said Vijay Dev, divisional commissioner, Delhi government.

“We would make all necessary arrangements, including stretchers and wheelchairs, in the stations where the drills would take place,” said a DMRC spokesperson.

On September 19, 2010, the DDMA and the NDMA had conducted mock drills at Metro stations in Haryana and Uttar Pradesh as well.