Disaster management centres woefully ill-equipped

Panic has gripped residents of the national Capital that falls under Seismic Zone IV, after the recent high-intensity earthquakes – with the epicentre in Nepal – which claimed over 8,000 lives in the neighbouring country and also jolted many states in North India.   A tremor of similar magnitude may bury half of Delhi.

The North and East Delhi Municipal Corporations claim that they are ready to tackle natural or man-made disasters, but a visit to some of the <g data-gr-id="41">corporations-run</g> disaster management centres revealed <g data-gr-id="40">sorry</g> state of affairs and shoddy preparedness.

The centres, located in various zones, do not just lack advanced equipment, but also don’t have skilled manpower to deal with <g data-gr-id="38">disaster-like</g> exigencies in the national Capital. What is worse is that many of the equipment are either <g data-gr-id="43">stolen,</g> or have become defunct due to poor maintenance.

A series of tremors in Nepal might not have caused large-scale damage in Delhi and adjoining areas, but experts have raised concern over the poor preparedness of government bodies to tackle calamities like earthquakes. Describing it as a major shortcoming of Delhi authorities, experts have claimed that despite falling under Seismic Zone-IV, the agencies are not at all prepared to deal with <g data-gr-id="71">disaster-like</g> situations.

The civic bodies, which are authorised to deal with such exigencies, claimed of having foolproof centres in various areas of the city and that too with proper equipment such as three-tracked excavators-cum-loaders, <g data-gr-id="50">skeed</g> steer, 3D excavators with <g data-gr-id="51">rock-breaker</g>, <g data-gr-id="49">trojen</g> power pack unit, <g data-gr-id="52">gas-cutter</g> and crowbar, along with other important tools.

However, a visit to some of the centres revealed insensitivity of the corporations towards the issue. At a disaster management centre in Nand Nagri, East Delhi, none of the <g data-gr-id="47">above mentioned</g> equipment was found. Besides, there was not even a person who had an expertise in dealing with disasters.

In the name of equipment, those found at the centres include nearly a dozen shoes and helmets, three-four gas cylinders, one damaged gas-cutter with some smaller tools. The situation at another centre located in Ghazipur was almost similar. Apart from a few pair of shoes, helmets and cylinders, the centre had a few emergency lights.

The staff on the premises said that the corporation’s claim of running full-fledged centres was mere eyewash as the disaster management officials were least bothered about catastrophes. They claimed that ever since the centres were set up, after the Gujarat quake, the then Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) has not bothered to take care of the facilities. 

“No senior official visit the centres, nor do they enquire about the condition here. With the passing of years, some of the equipment are stolen and only outdated material are available, which can hardly be used in case of a calamity,” said an attendant at a centre, requesting anonymity.