A joint fire and rescue mock drill was successfully conducted at Dr Bhimrao Ambedkar Memorial Hospital in Raipur by the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), and the District Fire Department. The exercise simulated an emergency fire situation to assess preparedness and enhance coordination among teams in disaster management scenarios. The drill commenced with the sound of fire sirens as fire brigade vehicles arrived at the hospital.

 

A mock fire on the third floor was symbolically extinguished using high-pressure water hoses. Teams practiced evacuating individuals trapped inside the hospital, providing first aid, and transporting injured patients on stretchers to ambulances. During the exercise, hospital staffs, including nursing personnel, employees, and security guards, were trained in handling fire emergencies. They were educated on fire prevention techniques, the operation of fire safety equipment, and steps to take during critical situations. Demonstrations included the proper use of various fire extinguishers containing wet chemicals, carbon dioxide, foam, or water, with explanations of their effectiveness against specific types of fires.

 

Key participants included Medical Superintendent Dr Santosh Sonkar, Assistant Superintendent Dr Anil Baghel, and Deputy Nursing Superintendent Nanda Rangari. District Fire Officer Pushpraj Singh, NDRF 3rd Battalion Chief Pawan Joshi, SDRF representative Jageshwar Dhiwar, and Imran Khan from the Fire Brigade team led the operations. Other personnel, including Gurushottam Som, Ram Khilawan Sahu, Suresh Kumar Dhruv, and Kanhaiya Lal, also contributed significantly. The mock drill demonstrated the readiness of the teams and the hospital staff to handle fire-related emergencies effectively.