Details

Written by: JK Monitor News Network

Category: ENVIRONMENT

Published: 18 October 2023

SAMBA: A comprehensive District Level Mock Exercise on Flood Water Rescue was successfully conducted in the Budhwani Mohalla of District Samba, Jammu and Kashmir. The exercise was led by a dedicated team consisting of the 13A TPL Kotbhalwal, Jammu and the 13 I (C Coy) Team of the 13th National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), under the leadership of Javed Iqbal, Assistant Commandant. The exercise took place from 1425 hrs to 1315 hrs, aimed at testing the preparedness and responsiveness of the teams in case of a flood emergency.

The mock exercise revolved around a Flood Water Rescue situation in District Samba, Jammu & Kashmir, triggered by heavy rainfall leading to the reduction of water levels in the Basantar river. As a consequence, water inundated several villages in the district, posing a significant risk to the local population. In the wake of this crisis, various phases of rescue and relief operations were initiated. Communication services were disrupted, and the Samba District administration, along with other agencies, swung into action. An Emergency Operation Center was activated to coordinate and oversee the rescue and relief efforts. Local police, civil defense, and NGOs stepped in to evacuate affected individuals, while medical services were deployed on the ground. The 13th BN NDRF played a pivotal role in search and rescue operations, with A Coy of NDRF deployed in Kotbhalwal, Jammu, actively participating in this comprehensive exercise.

The objectives of this exercise were to rescue trapped victims, provide pre-hospital treatment, raise public awareness about appropriate responses to such situations, and instill a sense of hope among the affected population. The exercise showcased several critical actions, including launching boats, safely rescuing people using boats, indirect and direct flood rescues, cardio-pulmonary resuscitation (CPR), drowning victim rescues, and demonstrations of improvised floating devices.

The sequence of action during the exercise conducted were Time of incident: 1040 hrs, Information received: 1055 hrs,  Mobilization of teams: 1110 hrs, Arrival at the site: 1120 hrs (approximately 1 km distance),  Operations started: 1135 hrs,  Number of victims rescued alive: 13, Number of retrieved dead bodies: None.  Operations closed: 1340 hrs

The exercise saw active participation from various stakeholders, including the DC Samba, Police Administration, officers from District Administration, students of HSS Boys schools Samba, Aapda Mitras, SDRF and NDRF members. In total, 143 participants took part in this comprehensive mock drill.

A debriefing session was conducted by Javed Iqbal, Assistant Commandant, providing valuable insights and feedback for further improvement in disaster response strategies. This successful mock exercise exemplifies the dedication and readiness of the District Samba administration and various agencies to respond effectively to flood-related emergencies, ensuring the safety and well-being of the local population.