Emergency mock drill at city airport

In a mock drill at the Kempegowda International Airport (KIA), security agencies on Saturday kicked off an artificial emergency scenario in which around 200 participants played a role in rescuing victims out of a chlorine gas-leak emergency.

The exercise began with a truck carrying chlorine cylinder enters the airport and the cylinders begin to leak. Soon, regional crew members are alerted and inform the commander who alerts the control room. A team of airport emergency handlers rush to the spot wearing chemical suits and oxygen masks and carrying hazardous gas and vapour identifiers to detect the gas.

The victims who sustained minor injuries were shifted to first aid tents at some distance from the spot and given first aid. Those who collapsed after inhaling the gas were carried in an ambulance to hospitals.

The response in reacting to the emergency situation was slow. “We are short staffed,” said Kunal Sharma, Consultant- Chemical, Industrial and Hazardous Material Transportation Disaster Preparedness, Natural Disaster Management Authority (NDMA).

A BIAL official said, “We have 52 airport emergency handlers, including CISF, cargo agents and ground handling agents. They are trained to handle chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear emergencies.