Deputy Commissioner Fouzia Taranum watches the chemical disaster drill in Kalaburagi on Wednesday. | Photo credit: ARUN KULKARNI
Deputy Commissioner Fouzia Taranum on Wednesday stressed the importance of preparedness and timely response during emergencies, saying presence of mind and public awareness is essential to minimize loss of life and prevent escalation during disasters.
She was speaking after inaugurating an off-site chemical disaster management exercise at BPCL warehouse in Nandur Industrial Area organized by the district administration, district emergency management committee and district disaster management office.
The deputy commissioner said the primary responsibility of disaster response teams is to save lives and prevent the situation from worsening. She described similar mock exercises as an effective practice to create awareness among the public as well as among officials of various departments.
The exercise demonstrated coordination among several agencies, including the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), revenue, health, police and electricity departments, in dealing with emergency situations such as chemical spills and fires.
As part of the simulation, it was assumed that the fire started in a storage tank at the BPCL facility and spread throughout the unit. Within 15 minutes of receiving the information, the fire and rescue services and ambulances arrived at the scene and began rescue operations. NDRF and SDRF teams along with fire personnel carried out firefighting operations using chemical agents while the injured workers were evacuated using stretchers and battery-powered vehicles and shifted to ambulances.
Health Ministry staff demonstrated first aid procedures and highlighted their vital role in reducing casualties during emergencies. The animal husbandry department ensured safe evacuation and health checks of the animals in the area.
The revenue department set up control rooms and help centers while the police regulated traffic on National Highway-150 to facilitate rescue operations. The electricity department disconnected the power supply in the industrial area as a precaution and the pollution control board monitored the gas leakage levels.
Officials said the exercise, which began with a briefing at BPCL’s conference hall, saw the active participation of more than 18 departments and was aimed at assessing the district administration’s preparedness and response time in dealing with industrial disasters.
Published – 25 March 2026 23:15 IST
