To raise awareness about emergency response protocols, civil defence preparedness drills were held in Belagavi and Vijayapura districts on Saturday (May 17, 2025) and Sunday (May 18, 2025), involving personnel from multiple agencies.
In Belagavi on Saturday, a mock drill simulating a hydrogen tank explosion was carried out at the Gold Plus factory in the Kanagala Industrial Area near Hukkeri. The District Disaster Management Authority supervised the operation, which demonstrated coordinated efforts by various departments to respond swiftly to such industrial incidents.
As part of the exercise, over 25 workers were ‘rescued’ in the scenario. Emergency teams showed how the injured would receive first aid at on-site medical posts before being shifted to taluk or district hospitals. Ten critically injured individuals were transported to the government hospital in Sankeshwar, ten others were taken by ambulance to the district hospital, and five were administered first aid on-site. The drill also included procedures for handling casualties, with the bodies of two deceased workers being sent for post-mortem to the government hospital.
The mock drill saw participation from around 200 factory workers, along with 13 Fire Brigade personnel, 16 SDRF staff, 30 medical professionals, and 20 members from the Revenue Department. Key officials present included Superintendent of Fire and Emergency Services Shashidhar Neelgara, SDRF Deputy Commandant S.A. Sharanabasava, and District Disaster Management Expert Ningana Gouda.
A similar civil defence simulation was conducted at Almatti in Vijayapura district on the same day.
On Sunday, Belagavi Police and the Belagavi City Corporation conducted a blackout mock drill in the evening at Hanuman Nagar near the Hanuman Temple. The drill, aimed at preparing civilians for potential enemy attacks, focused on spreading awareness about fire safety and emergency protocols while ensuring calm among the public, officials said.
