New Delhi, Nov 12 (IANS): The NDMA on Monday started a six-day basic training programme at the Kempegowda International airport in Bengaluru to enhance the preparedness of Airport Emergency Handlers (AEHs) during threats emanating from CBRN materials, an official said.

Fifty participants representing various agencies responsible for operation and maintenance of the airport will be trained on various aspects of Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear (CBRN) emergencies, a Home Ministry statement said.

"Another 150 working level staff will be sensitized on the subject in a half day module. Handling CBRN emergencies need specialised skills and efforts. This training programme will improve the safety at our airports by enabling the AEHs to handle any CBRN emergency."

The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) is conducting the training programme in collaboration with the Airport Authority of India, Institute of Nuclear Medicine and Allied Sciences and National Disaster Response Force.

The training programme consists of lectures as well as field training, including live demonstrations of detection and decontamination and use of personal protective equipment.

Besides equipping the AEHs to handle CBRN emergencies, the training programme will also enable them to provide medical first aid and initial psycho-social support.

Experts from stakeholder departments such as Department of Atomic Energy, National Centre for Disease Control, National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro Sciences and Bhabha Atomic Research Centre will train the participants.

This is the tenth in a series of such programmes being conducted at airports across the country to enable AEHs to respond suitably till the arrival of specialised response teams.

Nine batches have already been trained -- one each in Chennai, Kolkata, Mumbai, Varanasi, Patna, Ahmedabad, Hyderabad, Chandigarh and Raipur.