News & Pics: Mounesh Vishwakarma
Daijiworld Media Network — Bantwal (RD/CN)

Bantwal, Oct 20: During the flea market in Vittal, near here, on Tuesday October 19, a dark smoke engulfed a busy shopping complex located on the main street in the afternoon. This drew the attention of
the dozens of people who were at the market.

The police arrived at the spot in jeeps shouting orders through microphones, alerting the people. The fire fighters arrived in a fire truck, climbed the building and began rescuing the wounded with the help of ropes. A state-run ambulance–108 also arrived swiftly while paramedical staff attended to the injured and administered first aid.

The policemen and the public also rushed to the assistance of the victims.

This was the scene at the mock-drill held in Vittal town on Tuesday to help prepare for a fire mishap.

The public responded in different ways to the drill. Tuesday was the second day of ‘Jaycees Week’ organized by Vittal Jaycees and the drill was their initiative.

The local people believed it was a genuine fire since the organizers had not divulged any details about the ‘Be Alert’ mock drill. Puttur fire brigade personnel, Vittal ambulance personnel, and police personnel performed their roles during the drill which lasted for about 25 minutes. The city witnessed traffic jams on most streets while the drill was in progress.

Vittal Jaycees International president Rashid Vittal, addressing the gathering, announced that it was a mock drill staged to create public awareness.

Although, the mock-drill test was rather successful, the public at the spot had harrowing experience.