the goan I network
Panaji
The mock drill carried out by the Directorate of Fire and Emergency Services at Paryatan Bhavan in Patto, on Friday did not have provisions to evacuate persons with disabilities.
When a differently-abled person approached officials pointing out that there was no provision to rescue and evacuate persons with
above 75% disabilities, and senior citizens, officials are reported to have replied, “This is just a mock drill, we will make these provisions available from next time.”
However, due to the severity of the lapse, Vishant Nagvekar, present at the drill, who has more than 75% disability has written to the Director of Fire and Emergency Services, asking that the same be taken seriously. The letter was also forwarded to the Commissioner for Persons with Disability, the Collectors of North and South Goa, the Director of the Department of Tourism, in which building the drill was held, the Chairman of the Consumer Conciliation Committee of the Department of Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs.
While highlighting the problems faced by the disabled in this context, Nagvekar pointed out that the Fire Services were not prepared to evacuate persons with disabilities and would only wake up once there were already casualties.
Nagvekar also pointed out that a mock drill was in essence, a blueprint of a real situation and that the drill on Friday reflected that personnel at the Fire and Emergency Services of Goa lacked knowledge, training and awareness of dealing with the persons with disability during emergency rescue and evacuation.
Asking the Director of Emergency and Fire Services to take immediate cognisance of the lapse, Nagvekar has demanded that another mock drill be conducted at Paryatan Bhavan, to test rescuing preparedness of persons with disability and senior citizens.
