Mock Drill held at Sannidhanam

Sabarimala: At around 11.30 in the morning, about 10 people were rushed to the Emergency Operations Center in Malikappuram area. The fire force, police, NDRF and Rapid Action Force teams rushed to the scene with emergency equipment.

As security officials shoved the mob aside, the injured were taken to the hospital for treatment. The news spread that stampede had occurred at Malikappuram premises when the people ran amok seeing a snake. Onlookers were called to the phone of the media and enquired about the situation. Tension prevailed for quite some time as no one is sure of what is happening in front of them.

District collector P.B. Nooh, who came to knew about the incident, rushed to the spot. He and Sabarimala ADM Umesh took the lead in the rescue operation.

The injured were rushed to the government hospital at Sannidhanam and those need urgent care were taken in an emergency rescue vehicle to Pampa. During this time the tractor services have been put to a halt and made way for the easy entry of ambulances to the emergency spot. During this time, the Fire Force has rescued a person who is suspected to have bitten by a snake using rope from the Maliakappuram fly-over and immediately rushed to the hospital.

It is not clear what happened. After realizing that the events were part of a mock drill to verify the security arrangements, the panic turned to relief and then to laughter.

 As part of the safety effort, the Mock Drill at Sannidhanam was conducted under the direct supervision of Collector PB Nooh, District Disaster Relief Committee Chairman. He said that the mock drill understood the procedures that all departments had to take in the event of an accident. Currently, there are two ambulances from Sannidhanam to Pampa. Steps will be taken to increase it to three or four.

The arrangements will be based on the rush at Sannidhanam and Pampa. Drinking water will be distributed in cooperation with the Revenue and Local Self Government Institutions. In the coming pilgrimage phase, arrangements will be made to provide facilities for pilgrims in the school, college and other available places in the Laha-Elavungal, Erumeli-Kanamala-Laha area.

Deputy Commandant of the National Disaster Response Force G Vijayan, Deputy Commandant of Rapid Action K.L. Nirmal and DMO A.L. Sheeja and others were active participants. Apart from the various security forces, various department officials, Ayyappa Seva Sangam, and Vishudhi Sena Activists also participated in the mock drill.