Radiological emergency mock drill to be held at NRS and South City Mall

Kolkata: A radiological emergency mock drill will be conducted at two different places in the city on Thursday and Friday to ascertain the preparedness based on the detection, protection and decontamination of radioactive consignments in case of any incident during the movement of hazardous materials.

The first mock drill will be carried out at the NRS Medical College and Hospital on Thursday. The process would be conducted for two hours from 2 pm to 4 pm at the radiotherapy department of the hospital. Another mock drill will be undertaken at the South City Mall from 7 am to 9 am on Friday. A press statement issued by the state government says that people should not get panicked as the mock drill is meant to check the preparedness of various agencies and the departments.

The department of Disaster Management and Civil Defence is organising a mock drill on radiation emergency in collaboration with

NDRF, disaster management group of both the city police and Bengal police, Civil Defence and Fire and Emergency Department.

Various other agencies and departments such as Kolkata Municipal Corporation, Fire and Emergency Services, State Health department and search and rescue team and observers from concerned agencies are extending their support for making the mock drills a success.

One of the main objectives of the exercise is to reinforce the efficiency of the contingency plan of the hospital and the shopping mall and familiarisation of roles and responsibilities of the other stakeholders during any emergency situations.

It was learnt from the NRS hospital sources, a scenario might be enacted for this drill both at the hospital and the shopping mall where there is always a possibility of radioactive consignment getting exposed to fire. The mock drill will be conducted at critical zones to address any possible crisis situation.

A senior official from the NRS Medical College and Hospital said: "The state government has decided our hospital as the venue for conducting mock drill. We have made necessary arrangements at the radiotherapy department where the mock drill will

be done."