Across Delhi, a huge drill to test response to earthquake

[Bl[i]tZ]

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At 11.30 AM on Wednesday, a siren announced the beginning of a massive emergency drill to evaluate the city's preparedness for an intensive earthquake.



On trial today are government agencies, emergency forces, and hospitals. The idea is to measure the response to an earthquake measuring 7.8 on the Richter scale.



Security personnel patrol Khan Market Metro Station during the mock drill on Wednesday. Photo: V.V. Krishnan


50,000 volunteers will stage rescue operations at colleges, malls, hospitals and metro stations.



The Delhi government's own estimates say nine out of every 10 buildings in the city are at risk of moderate or significant quake damage.



Metro passengers watch as a security officer gives instructions at Khan Market Station. Commuters in metro, buses and motorists faced momentary inconvenience due to the drill. Photo: V.V. Krishnan



Fire service personnel participate in a mock evacuation exercise during a quake-readiness drill at the Sales Tax Office in New Delhi. Photo: Shiv Kumar Pushpakar



Paramedics shift a person to the trauma centre of RML hospital as part of the mock drill in Delhi. Photo: V.V.Krishnan


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New Delhi: At 11.30 this morning, a siren sounded in several parts of Delhi. It announced a massive emergency drill to evaluate the city's preparedness for an intensive earthquake.

On trial were government agencies, emergency forces, hospitals, and residents.

The idea was to measure the response to an earthquake measuring 7.8 on the Richter scale.

50,000 volunteers were involved in "rescue operations" at colleges, malls, and metro stations. At Loknayak Bhawan near Khan Market, offices were evacuated. Part of today's mission was to educate residents on what they should do in an emergency. Government officials created "a number of simulated situations like collapse of flyovers, crack in metro pillars, and damage to hospitals."


Six metro stations were closed for more than 30 minutes and traffic in parts of Central, South and North Delhi was diverted to allow ambulances and fire engines to move through.

Delhi is in a zone ranked four on a five-point scale by the US Geological Survey which measures how quake-prone an area is. Experts have been sharing their concerns about unplanned development and questionable infrastructure. (Delhi ignores own quake peril warnings)

The Delhi government's own estimates say nine out of every 10 buildings in the city are at risk of moderate or significant quake damage.


Read more at: Across Delhi, a huge drill to test response to earthquake

[protest]

This guy is really living it.

[jbgt90]

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wonder if this is a first in India?