Multi-agency exercise 'Pralay Sahayam' held

Hyderabad: A multi agency exercise was conducted on the banks of Hussain Sagar Lake as the final event of Pralay Sahayam in Hyderabad on Saturday.

The event demonstrated efforts of all central and state agencies, National Disaster Relief Force (NDRF) and Armed Forces towards jointly tackling an urban flooding scenario in Hyderabad.

Union Minister of State for Defence Dr. Subhash Ramrao Bhamre was the Chief Guest on the occasion and congratulated the organising committee for the successful conduction of the exercise. Deputy Chief Minister Mohammad Mehmood Ali was the Guest of Honour. Lieutenant General PM Hariz, General Officer Commanding-in- Chief (GOC in C) Southern Command was the conducting authority of the exercise.

For the purpose of the exercise, Hussain Sagar Lake was transformed into urban colonies partly submerged under water, post heavy showers in the city. A large number of dummy structures depicting multistoried buildings and houses with stranded people, power stations, educational institutes etc., were erected in the lake in an inundated condition. The hapless stranded occupants of these dwellings were rescued in join operations carried out by the State Government agencies, Police, State Fire and Emergency Services, NDRF, CISF and the Armed Forces.

The Indian Air Force and the Army Aviation employed the Mi-17 helicopters, the Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH) and Chetak Helicopter for aerial evacuation, demonstrating special skills in hovering and winching. The massive Mi-17 lowered a Gemini class inflatable boat of the Indian Navy for rescuing the trapped citizens. The agile ALH and Chetak Helicopters virtually hovered over the roof tops and winched in people trapped in stranded, inaccessible buildings. Special Forces such as the Army Commandos and Marine Commandos from the Indian Navy carried out a highly synchronized Search and Rescue operation in the flooded colonies. Dog Squad of NDRF and Telangana State police were pressed into action to search for trapped personnel. Relief activities such as evacuation of rescued people, provisioning of medical care and distributions of essential supplies was carried out by multiple agencies in a coordinated and efficient manner.

The exercise brought out the role and function of the State Emergency Operations in coordinating conduct of the joint operations. Further the significance of early warning systems of agencies like Indian Meteorological Department (IMD), National Remote Sensing Centre (NRSC) and Indian Ocean National Ocean Information Services (INCOIS) was emphasized.

The exercise culminated with a Static Display which demonstrated the efficient and functional layout of a relief and rehabilitation camp for the displaced persons. The camp catered for emergency medical assistance and other essential services for the needy. Indian vendors showcased state of the art disaster management equipment and related wares. NGOs such as Plan India, Care India and Sphere India etc., also participated, bringing out their capabilities, organization and operational strategies.