Thaindian News

New Delhi, July 27 (IANS) The Delhi Disaster Management Authority will Saturday conduct mock drills at 11 Delhi Metro stations to check if the staff are ready to deal with earthquakes, bomb blasts and terror attacks.

The timing of the drill has, however, not been disclosed, said DDMA. “How would we fathom the preparedness if the timing is disclosed,” an official said.

The drill will be conducted at Central Secretariat, Shahdara, Pitampura, Badarpur, Kirti Nagar, Chandni Chowk, Akshardham, Karol Bagh, Noida City Centre, Gurudronacharya and Dwarka Sector 11 stations, a DDMA statement said.

DDMA will conduct the drill along with the National Disaster Management Authority.

“The aim is to check how well the Metro staff can manage, coordinate and be ready during any kind of disaster - whether it is natural or manmade,” a Delhi Metro official said.

A DDMA official said the drill would be conducted in the national capital region.

“A metro station from each of the nine districts, except east district, from Delhi will participate in the drill,” the official said.

DDMA will also conduct a Delhi Emergency Management Exercise (DEMEX) from the first week of August to the first week of December.

“The exercise will check the medical preparedness and response of government, private hospitals and ambulances services. It will train trainers of the police in-charge of police control room vans, nurses in hospitals and other paramedical staff to be fully prepared for emergency,” the DDMA statement said.