Tamil Nadu   

Disaster management workshop for councillors and officials

— Photo: Chennai Corporation

Mayor M. Subramanian witnesses a mock rescue operation at management workshop for councillors on Wednesday.

CHENNAI: The Chennai Corporation organised a workshop here on disaster management for councillors and corporation officials on Wednesday.

Organisers of the workshop wasted no time in showing how important the topic was by screening a short film about the now famous village of Samiyarpettai in Cuddalore. A few weeks before the tsunami struck, the villagers had received basic training in first aid and life skills such as swimming.

Though the villagers were not very enthusiastic about the programme in the beginning, even the women had got involved in the end. Little did they know that the skills they had gathered during this training would come in handy less than a week after they completed their training. When the tsunami struck, many of the villagers were able to save not just themselves but also others. The village has since become an icon for what pro-active disaster management programmes can achieve. Mayor M. Subramanian and Commissioner Rajesh Lakhoni participated in the event that was designed to enhance the administrators’ knowledge on the subject of natural and man-made disasters as well as how to prepare and react in times of calamity.

Mr. Lakhoni said he did not know what a tsunami really was until it struck. “When the tsunami hit we did not even know what to do… These awareness programmes will help us to be more prepared,” he said. He further stressed on how disaster drills can help save lives. “Easy techniques, along with a little practice, can help us save not just ourselves but others as well.”

The Mayor said that it was impossible to stop natural disasters but steps could be taken to mitigate damage to life and property. “We want every district, every street to be become like Samiyarpettai. If the councillors and administrators learn how to respond they can spread the word to the 50 lakh people they govern,” he said. “If it can happen in Samiyarpettai it can happen in Chennai. Even though the number of councillors present is slightly disappointing, I request all of you to spread what you learn today,” he said.

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