Mangalore: Mock Fire Drill at MRPL Reveals Shortcomings in Handling Emergency
 
Daijiworld Media Network – Mangalore (PS)
 
Mangalore, Dec 5: Mangalore Refinery and Petrochemicals Limited (MRPL) was a hub of activity on Tuesday December 4 with fire engines rushing all over the place and water sprinklers blowing with all their might.

The occasion was an offsite mock drill for fire accident and rescue operation carried out at by the district administration in order to examine the preparedness of various security measures and co-ordination between various departments. Every year, the day is observed as 'chemical disaster prevention day' and the mock drill was conducted in this regard.

Subsequent observations made by nine observers thereafter revealed room for improvement in several techniques at the time of crisis.
 
The mock drill was held near the crude oil container which has a capacity of 56400 m3 (FB 7001C). Fire ‘broke out’ near the container at around 11 am and immediately a siren began to blow.
 
Water sprinklers were used initially, and the fire squad team arrived in no time. Cooling water sprinklers attached to a nearby crude oil containers were also turned on and more fire brigade teams were called on from neighboring industries like NMPT, BASF and from Karnataka Fire Services.

The fire control officer at the venue later learnt that the fire emergency had spread from ‘onsite’ to ‘offsite’, putting the adjacent village of Bala at risk. He directed the authority concerned to declare the fire accident as offsite, leading to evacuation of the people in the neighbouring villages.

Foam fire extinguishers were used to douse the fire that sparked near the crude oil container as water has the risk of spreading with oil and posing more danger. Two fire personnel wore fire proximity suit which allowed them to enter the fire and rescue the stranded people if any.
 
The ‘injured’ employees were shifted to AJ, Shreenivas (Mukka) and MRPL hospitals. The evacuated villagers were brought to safe assembly areas at Community Hall Bala, Township and Employees Club.
 
Later at a review meeting, the outcome of the mock drill was noted down by the officials of various departments. There were nine observers deputed in different areas during the fire accident.

Their observations pointed out on rash driving of an ambulance driver, for which an observer remarked ‘the ambulance was about to topple’.

They pointed out police failure in controlling the traffic while the injured were being rushed to hospitals. They also noted that although the fire was declared as offsite emergency, people in the locality were not aware of it.

Another obsever said that though the emergency situation was cleared up after the fire was successfully doused, it was not clear for many people whether they could enter the site or not.

An important issue pointed out was the traffic jam at Bykampady bridge which resulted in the late arrival of the fire brigade from the city.
 
Apart from these loopholes, the observers said that security personnel, quickness and co-ordination of various departments like fire brigade, emergency control officers, with the district administration was at its best.
 
District administration, MRPL officials noted down the shortcomings and promised to improve upon them.
 
ADC Dayanand speaking to reporters said that the mock drill was mainly to understand and improve the working of various departments in case of any fire emergency. Chief fire officer Varadarajan, deputy director of factories and boilers Nanjappa among others were present.