Disaster management skills demonstrated

Visakhapatnam: The joint disaster management exercise - Prakampana -was successful with more than 250 delegates of almost all stakeholders and government agencies participating, said Flag Officer, Commanding-in-Chief, Eastern Naval Command Vice-Admiral HCS Bisht.

The Vice-Admiral said the third national level joint disaster management seminar on earthquakes, to be coordinated by Indian Air Force would be held at Bhuj in Gujarat from September 15 to September 17.

Speaking to mediapersons after the Humanitarian and Disaster Relief (HADR) capabilities demonstration with the three dimensional forces and display of various equipment including the hospital ship INS Nirupak, and deployment of choppers with material and relief works, he said that they are focusing on the coordination training for the stakeholders to be more effective during the disaster management.

The second day witnessed the armed forces capabilities to minimise the problems. The Vice-Admiral said that communication has been the major issue in the disaster management and trying to set up more coordination between the local civic authorities and the armed forces.

The Assistant chief of Integrated Defence Staff (ISD) Major General Y V K Mohan, who was also present, said so far two coordination exercises were held. The exercise was held in coordination with the local and civic administration and other stakeholders.

Promoted as Lieutenant General and chief of both Telugu States, Y V K Mohan said that the Blue Book of State government should be updated with the training programmes.

The second day Prakampana witnessed Humanitarian and Disaster Relief (HADR) capability demonstration beginning with display of air assets of Indian Navy and Indian Air Force at Naval Air Station INS Dega followed by demonstration of HADR operations from Navy Ships at Naval Dockyard, and a static demonstration of HADR assets of all participating stakeholders at HADR Campsite near Samudrika Grounds.

All participants of the exercise visited all three sites and were given an insight into the nuances of disaster relief operations.
The air assets demonstration included AN-32 aircraft involved in airlifting relief material, an Air Ambulance and 2 Mi17 heavy lift helicopters of the Indian Air Force in addition to Dornier, Seaking, UH3H and Chetak helicopters of the Indian Navy.

Demonstration inside Naval Dockyard included Navy Ships Jalashwa and Gharial loading/unloading of HADR relief material while INS Nirupak demonstrated the role of a Hospital Ship. Indian Coast Guard Ship Samudra Paheredar demonstrated the pollution response capabilities.

The demonstration at the HADR camp site included setting up Incident Command Post and display of various equipment used in road clearance and relief operations from Engineers Regiment and Medical Team from Southern Command, NDRF, State Disaster Management Authority (SDMA), District Disaster Response Team, BSNL, Naval Diving Team and Indian Navy Disaster Response Team.