On the third day of the South Asian Annual Disaster Management Exercise (SAADMEx) – 2015, Joint Field Training Exercise on Chemical Emergency was conducted by the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) at LG India Pvt. Ltd., Greater Noida (Uttar Pradesh) with active participation of all eight SAARC nations,- Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka.
It was presumed that due to an earthquake, there is report of chemical gas leakage in the plant. There is panic situation in the vicinity of the factory and few workers are reportedly affected due to exposure to the chemical gases.
The impact of leakage of gas is affecting larger area and the situation seems to be out of the capability of factory and local administration. Considering the gravity of impact of the chemical emergency, help of National and International response force is decided to be asked.
Subsequently, rescue teams of all South Asian countries promptly responded and mobilized to the incident site. Command Post, Staging Area, Base of Operation (BoO), Emergency Operation Centre (EOC), Communication Centre, Decontamination Station, Planning Section, Resource Unit, Medical first aid post and Media Enclave was established by NDRF near the operation site as per the International Search & Rescue Advisory Group (INSARAG) guidelines.
Rescue Teams demonstrated quick response and executing their Chemical Emergency rescue skills and professional capabilities to evacuate the victims from the factory. Further, condition of victims was stabilized at Medical First Aid Post established near the incident site.
Thereafter, leakage gas pipeline was shielded by the team with the help of high-tech equipment. The Joint Field Training Exercise was conducted under the overall supervision of Shri OP Singh, Director General, NDRF.
The first SAADMEx – 2015 is being organised in New Delhi and National Capital Region (NCR) from November 23-26, 2015.
NDRF is playing the lead role in conducting SAADMEx – 2015 with the support of NDMA, NIDM, MHA, & MEA. For the first time, all SAARC nations came together and joined hands to undertake such a massive field training exercise on combating an earthquake like disaster and chemical emergency on a common platform with their specialized skills and state-of-the-art equipment.