Aero India 2011: Disaster managers are on their toes

Not just an accident, but this time around, the disaster management cell is well prepared to tackle any terrorist, chemical or biological attack on the ongoing Aero Show. The new inclusion in the disaster management team this year is that of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF).

Hoping for the best and preparing for the worst, the team has trained a total of 600 members from different sectors in order to tackle any unprecedented disaster. The aero show has already witnessed about six accidental bush fire accidents, because of the Nilgiri groves surrounding the area. Thanks to the quick reaction team, the fire was doused at the earliest.

MK Aiyappa, deputy commissioner, district disaster management cell (urban) said, “We have five emergency respondent teams set up around the venue at Gates 8 and 9, Gantaganahalli village, MVIT College, Chikajala police station and at the control room outside the venue. All the data is collected in one centre and the concerned team is alerted during an emergency.”

The NDRF team has been included to tackle any possible chemical, biological or even terror attacks. “Our team is prepared to respond to as many as six disasters simultaneously. Any disaster first affects the area outside the venue, which is why we have strategically placed these static squads at different places,” said K Pradeep, nodal emergency liaison officer.

Although Bangalore has no emergency lane, during the aero show one lane has been dedicated for emergency vehicles and 30 hospitals are linked to respond to any crisis. “The team is ready to treat 600 casualties simultaneously. The members of the flying squad go on rounds and update those in the static squad,” said chief medical coordinator Dr Santhosh.

Apart from terror attack, the major threat comes from possible bird hits as the surrounding areas have more than 300 fish ponds.

“Many birds hibernate to the surrounding areas as there is a dumping yard, as well as fish ponds where African cat fishes are bred. The dump yard at Mavallipura has been covered and we have asked the garbage vehicles to ferry only in the evening,” said B Venkatesh, Tahsildar, north division.

Till the aero show gets over, the sale of meat has been banned across the area and 22 eating joints have been shut down, in order to keep the birds at bay.