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Mock drills at Delhi Metro stations

Staff Reporter

Terrorist attack, toxic gas attack, bomb blast part of the exercise

Photo: PTI

Checking preparedness: CISF personnel during a mock drill of terrorist attack at Rajiv Chowk metro station in New Delhi on Thursday.

NEW DELHI: Mock drills were carried out simultaneously at four Delhi Metro railway stations here on Thursday to assess the preparedness of various agencies in responding to emergency situations.

The drills simulated scenarios depicting a terrorist attack, a toxic gas attack and a bomb blast besides an exercise to defuse a bomb.

Simultaneous drill

According to DMRC officials, the most elaborate of these drills was conducted at Rajiv Chowk (Connaught Place) station where people acting as terrorists attacked the security personnel with automatic weapons.

At Chawri Bazaar station, a poisonous gas attack was enacted while at Rithala a simulated bomb blast was created in a parking lot.

At Shastri Park Depot, a bomb-like object was hidden inside the premises to be detected by bomb detection squads.

“The scenarios at the stations were created between 6-18 a.m. and 6-24 a.m. Station staff immediately informed the Operations Control Centre and all metro train operations were stopped at 6-18 a.m. and remained suspended till 6-36 a.m. During this time, public announcements were made inside trains and stations and commuters at the affected stations were informed to use alternate exits with station staff assisting them,” said Anuj Dayal, Chief Public Relations Officer of DMRC.

As part of the drill, security personnel of the Central Industrial Security Force, the Delhi police and other agencies rushed to the scene and the situation was quickly “brought under control”.

Normal metro services were resumed at 6-37 a.m.

“The smoke created inside Rajiv Chowk metro station was cleared in about ten minutes through ventilators and windows. Officials of the National Disaster Management Authority, which monitored the drill, said they were very satisfied with the reaction time of the metro personnel in responding to the emergency,” Mr. Dayal said.

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