Port Blair, Aug 5: The mock exercise ‘Jal Raksha-14’ which involved a set of simulated emergency scenarios on high sea, was successfully organized by District Disaster Management Authority, South Andaman, today at three locations of Port Blair and Ferrargunj.
In the exercise at Chattam Jetty where the scenario of Jet Ski accident was created with a person falling into the sea. Immediately, the distress alert was disseminated to concerned agencies and the Incident Commander urged the Indian Coast Guard through Marine Rescue and Coordination Centre to rescue the person by Helicopter. A Coast Guard helicopter reached at the location and the person was rescued and taken to Civilian Helipad and then to G.B.Pant Hospital immediately.
The second scenario started at Phoenix Bay jetty when the information of a boat M.V.Lawrence capsizing into the sea was disseminated. Approx 5 persons also fell in the sea and ten others were stranded in the sinking boat. Responding to the distress alert sounded by the Captain of M.V.Lawrence, immediately a rescue operation was started by Police Marine Force and Coast Guard. All the persons were rescued and brought to shore, where they were provided first aid and stabilized by the trained NDRF personnel’s and serious victims were taken to G.B.Pant Hospital.
The last scenario was the simulation of the Forest Ferry Boat capsizing at Wandoor Jetty. Immediately the distress alert was given by Forest Control Room to the Port Control Tower and Police Control Room, and all the people in distress were rescued successfully by Police Marine Force and they were given required treatment at the shore and the serious victims were taken to PHC, Manglutan.
All the participating agencies viz. Revenue Department, Police, Indian Coast Guard, N.D.R.F, Health, Fire Services, N.Y.K and press/media worked in coordination and the State Control Room & District Control Room South Andaman coordinated the overall exercise by mobilization response agencies immediately. Besides, private boat operators and some fishermen also responded quickly although they were not the part of exercise which exhibited their awareness and sense of duty and responsibility.
Some shortcomings were also noticed which were discussed in detail in the de-briefing meeting held later in the evening in the office of the Deputy Commissioner, South Andaman, a District Office release said.
