KOCHI: As part of checking the preparedness to face an emergency situation, a mock drill was conducted at the Cochin International Airport in Nedumbassery on Wednesday.
The mock drill was conducted by creating a situation akin to a plane accident. Around 30 agencies associated with the airport such as hospitals, disaster management team, district administration, Indian Navy, Indian Coast Guard and the Airports Authority of India took part.
The mock drill began with the captain of Alfa Delta Airline plane (imaginary) passing a message of fire in the flight just before take-off at 2.30 pm.
A full emergency was declared at the airport and Fire and Rescue Services personnel headed by ARFF senior manager Sojan Koshy swung into action. A moving command control headed by airport director A C K Nair also became operational. Indian Navy’s helicopter ambulance was in position for take-off.
Ambulances rushed to hospitals with ‘injured’ passengers. Emergency control room, assembly area, body holding area, survivors’ reception area, media centre and public relation cell started functioning. Operations outside the airport were coordinated by the district administration.
The rescue operations were completed in 30 minutes. An Air India Boeing 777-200 plane was used as the affected aircraft.
“Mock drill is conducted once in two years, with each participating agency having a pre-defined mission to carry out in the case of an emergency. Coordination outside the airport too has to be ensured. If there are any lapses in the operation, they will be identified and steps will be initiated to rectify them,’’ Nair said.