Mock drills held in high-footfall areas across Ernakulam

Civil defence mock drills conducted in Kerala High Court, Kochi metro, and more, emphasizing emergency response and safety procedures.

Civil defence mock drills were held at the Kerala High Court, offices, Kochi metro stations, ferries, shopping malls and other commercial centres, and in many parts of Ernakulam district for around half an hour from 4 p.m. on Wednesday, as part of such drills held Statewide.

The drills were conducted in coordination with personnel of the Fire and Rescue Services department, police, and civil defence volunteers, among others. According to a press release issued by Cochin Shipyard, power and gas supplies were shut down to simulate an emergency, while special evacuation procedures were conducted. At the same time, personnel were guided to safe zones in buildings and ships, while all gates were closed. ‘Hot work activities’ resumed only after obtaining clearance from safety personnel. A debriefing session was held, highlighting the lessons learnt and reinforcing best practices in emergency response, it says.

Many public transport services, including Water Metro ferry services from their terminals, were delayed by a few minutes due to the conduct of the drills.

What began as an alert in the form of three long sirens, each lasting 30 minutes, ended with all-clear sirens to drive home the message that all was safe. The drills were conducted during this time span, including in areas where the sound of sirens was not audible.

As a precaution, stakeholders had exhorted people to turn off lights and to cover windows with black cloths, while remaining within houses and other buildings. People were also exhorted to keep ready emergency kits containing torch, medicines, food, and water, and to keep track of official news media to stay updated. They were also told not to panic and to stay away from spreading unverified news.