By IANS,
New Delhi : A simulated earthquake will Wednesday assess the preparedness of government agencies and educate people in the capital with mock drills to handle natural disasters.
While stimulated acts of building collapses in schools, colleges and hospitals will follow an assumed 48-second 7.9 strong earthquake, 50,000 volunteers will stage rescue operations.
“We will educate people how not to panic and handle an earthquake and other natural crisis,” said Z.U. Siddiqui of the Delhi Disaster Management Authority.
It will conduct mock drills along with the National Disaster Management Authority.
Siddiqui said the drill would probe the level of preparedness of government agencies in the capital’s first city-wide evacuation and rescue exercise.
“Though the objective of the drill is to spread awareness among people, we will also check our efficiency in handling natural disasters,” he added.
A select number of schools, colleges, hospitals, cinema halls, metro stations and residential colonies will participate in the exercise to give it an air of reality.
Sirens will be sounded in different locations. Army officers have been roped in to act as independent observers.
The mock drill will be conducted at the Delhi Metro stations at AIIMS, Inderlok, Karkardooma, Tilak Nagar, Khan Market and Dwarka Sector 10 from 11.30 a.m. for about half hour.
Police expect traffic congestion at a few places on Outer Ring Road, near PVR Cinema Saket, Lajpat Nagar and Connaught Place.