Off-site emergency mock drill conducted at MRPL premises

Off-site emergency mock drill conducted at MRPL premises

Mangalore Today News Network

Mangalore, Dec 5, 2012: An off-site emergency mock drill was conducted at the premises of the Mangalore Refinery and Petrochemicals Ltd (MRPL) on December 4, Tuesday, by the MRPL in co-ordination with the district administration.

The main aim of  the mock drill conducted as part of the Chemical Disaster Prevention Day was to test the preparedness of various emergency services and their mutual co-ordination at the time of emergency.

The 90 minute mock drill was initiated  by simulating a fire mishap at one of the crude oil storage tanks of MRPL. There was a siren indicating the fire mishap and soon  a number of security personnel swung into action. Even the fire fighters were pressed into service and people were asked to vacate the buildings. Additional Deputy Commissioner Dayanand, Chief Fire Officer H S Varada Rajan, MRPL General Manager (Oil Movement and Safety) U V Aithal and Factory Manager H P Pai rushed to the spot and oversaw the operation along with MRPL Fire and Safety Security Manager Athul.When the  90 minute long exercise was over, the officials declared the situation as under control.

The preparedness and response factors of various security agencies were put to test in the drill. It also tried to make a check if the available infrastructural facilities were suffice to  meet such emergencies.

Later, a review meeting was held and some of the lapses that occurred during the exercise were taken serious note of. The observers  appreciated the alertness of the security personnel, while lack of   active participation from some of the participating agencies was also discussed.

 Dayanand, Additional Deputy Commissioner of Dakshina Kannada district, oversaw the mock drill operations.